Sherdog’s Top 10: Ghoulish MMA Moments

Brian KnappOct 27, 2016

9. Holes


It was enough to prompt dry heaves from those with the stoutest of stomachs.

Staph infections are common occurrences in MMA gyms, but that did not make Kevin Randleman’s encounter with the bacteria in 2007 any less disturbing. A two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Ohio State University, “The Monster” parlayed those skills into a successful mixed martial arts career. Randleman won seven of his first 10 bouts and captured the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title in November 1999 with a unanimous decision over Pete Williams.

Randleman later competed in Pride Fighting Championships and Strikeforce but was derailed by a failed drug test, a DUI arrest and poor performance. However, in October 2007, Randleman was in the headlines again after developing a staph infection that left two gaping holes on his body, one just beneath his right armpit, the other in the middle of his ribcage. It was a scene right out of a horror movie.

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