Special Exclusive: Life is good & only getting better; The Monster Talks Part II
By Dave Carpinello
An Exclusive talk with Kevin Randleman about his battle with health problems and the heart of an ex-champion that keeps the “Monster” fighting against all odds to make his return to fighting. The interview from part I is continued with Kevin talking about how he feels like a caged animal confined to his house. He told me that with all that is great in life besides his recent health problems; something is missing. The inability to train with the other fighters at Xtreme Couture and get kicked in the face and punch other fighters. Kevin put his frustration into one sentence….”My whole life I have wanted to be a fighter and now I realize that at some point that will end and these setbacks are not helping the situation”.
As Kevin tried to corral his two dogs Brutus & Monster that escaped and were standing across the street taunting him like Kevin had done to so many of his opponents. He continued talking about his future and the opportunities that are still available for a former UFC champion.
PDG: Do you know of any other fighters that have gotten the MRSA staph infection lately?
Kevin: Sure, I know of a couple fighters that have gotten sick but it is a little different than the one that I suffer from. People have a lot of misconceptions about staph infections but as different as each one is they all fall under the same umbrella. The staph infection that I am battling is from inside my body back from when I had the shoulder surgery. After I heal this time I need to make sure that I go at least 1 to 2 years without getting infected again and then my body will have developed the antibodies to fight MRSA. Basically my body will burn the infection out from the inside over that time.
PDG: With everything that has happened lately; how close to 100% are you mentally and physically?
Kevin: I am almost there, getting closer everyday.
PDG: Lets talk about your last opponent; Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. I interviewed him and his brother Murilo “Ninja” Rua last week. He said that he didn’t prepare properly for Forrest and would welcome a rematch or a fight with Tito Ortiz. Give me some thoughts on that.
Kevin: I think that Shogun will get beat by Forrest every time that he fights him. I made a lot of mistakes in my fight against Shogun like charging and getting taken down. Give him credit though as he was the better fighter that night regardless of any injuries that I had. He beat me. I don’t think that he can beat Forrest or Quinton Jackson…..THESE GUYS ARE NEW FIGHTERS NOW THAN EARLIER IN THEIR CAREERS. Shogun isn’t training with the caliber of fighters that these guys are today.
PDG: The question about fighting Tito came up because Dan Henderson was on HDNet’s Inside MMA and he said that a fight against Ortiz didn’t interest him. So I asked Shogun if would fight him.
Kevin: I would fight Ortiz for fucking free.
PDG: I know that you want to fight him but can Shogun beat him?
Kevin: NO, he might get lucky with a submission but Tito trains for strength and power. Shogun and them train on their backs, he needs to get stronger. In the UFC there are too many 205 lb fighters that have strength training as a major part of their regiment. Shogun will do great when he works on strength.
PDG: So do you think that the rules in the USA/UFC in regards to soccer kicks and leg stomps are effecting how some former PRIDE fighters including Shogun are able to compete?
Kevin: Sure I do especially in Shogun’s case because fighters are always going to shoot in on him and he used to be able to step back and kick them on the ground.
PDG: So how are you going to pass the time between now and when you can fight again?
Kevin: I will help out with training other fighters and doing a lot of motivational speaking to inner-city kids. I love talking to the kids and explaining a lot of the things that I did wrong in my life in hopes that they make better decisions.
The more in-depth that the interview goes Kevin says that he is just a big old kid and that is what most of us are at heart. Studies have shown that the demographics just for playing video games has moved from 8 to 18 years old back in the early 1990’s to 12 to 40 now in 2007. Hell I take that, HALO3 and Call of Duty 4 come to mind. On the flip side though most of us still make some stupid mistakes that at our ages we shouldn’t.
Kevin: That is one of things that most people forget. When you were a kid you were free spirited and I think that people are crazy if they don’t remember that and take advantage of life as you only get to live it once. I am not excusing making mistakes as you need to learn by those but don’t forget to enjoy life. SAFELY. I am still a businessman and I want to be successful and happy. You cannot do that unless you are healthy though, so everyone that reads this needs to know to take care of your mind and body.
PDG: Because of your latest health setback did you miss out on the new American Gladiator show with Hulk Hogan as the host?
Kevin: Yea Dave and I am totally bummed about that. But you know if I was able to participate in that it may have interfered with…… {Sorry you guys will have to wait until I can publish that}
PDG: You mentioned to me that you are going to come out with a book. What can your fans expect to read in that?
Kevin: Well most of my recent life has been pretty much public. Wait until they read about the crazy ass times I had before that. It will be a while until that book and my career is done.
PDG: Kevin, always a great talk. Thanks again.
Kevin: Thanks to all my fans and make sure that you take care of yourselves and I will be BACK!!!
Here are the graphic pictures of Randleman’s staph infection:
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