Some friendships are forged on fire. Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman had one of them. From the wrestling mats of Ohio State to the cage of the UFC, they were more than teammates—they were brothers in battle. But on February 11, 2016, that bond faced the ultimate test. Randleman, a former UFC heavyweight champion, passed away at just 44, leaving the MMA world in shock.

Nine years later, Coleman still feels the loss. As such, he took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to his best friend, a man he once described as “the most charismatic” fighter he had ever known.

In the heartfelt post, ‘The Hammer’ wrote, “February 11th 2016 I got the news my best friend Kevin The monster Randleman passed away. We did just about everything together, wherever you saw him you saw me. But most of all we gave each other confidence. When we were together we didn’t feel like anyone could touch us. There is no one quite like the monster when he prepared properly he was one of the greatest fighters ever.”

Few who watched Randleman fight would argue with that. Explosive, fearless, and unpredictable, he was a human highlight reel. A two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Ohio State, he transitioned into MMA in the late ’90s and quickly made his mark. In 1999, he captured the UFC heavyweight title, successfully defending it once before falling to Randy Couture. But titles alone don’t define a fighter’s legacy. It’s the wars they fought, the moments they created, and the respect they earned.

Randleman’s fight resume reads like a roll call of legends—Chuck Liddell, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic, Fedor Emelianenko, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, to name a few.

But perhaps his greatest moment came in 2004 when he shocked the world by knocking out ‘Cro Cop’ in PRIDE. A stunning left hook sent the Croatian icon crashing to the canvas, proving once again that ‘The Monster’ was always a serious threat, no matter the odds.

To this day, Kevin Randleman remains a symbol of the old-school fighter—the kind who never backed down. His athleticism was unmatched, and his charisma was undeniable. And for Coleman, his presence still lingers, even in absence.

The UFC legend’s tribute to his friend ended with, “Loved and missed by so many he touched so many hearts. The original Hammer House 4 life brothers. We started it together. I know he’d be most proud of me being sober. If i struggle he motives me to be strong. RIP brother. Until we meet again someday. Keep watching over us Kev.”

While Kevin Randleman’s legacy in combat sports is undeniable, there was more to the fighter than fans might be aware of. According to one man, it was ‘The Monster’ who ended up becoming his guardian angel during a dark time in his life.

A look back at when Kevin Randleman saved a fan’s life with a phone call 

Marcus Sewell had no idea that Kevin Randleman stumbling upon his tweet would lead to his life taking a turn for the good. During an interview on ‘A Fighter’s Legacy’ podcast, Sewell revealed how Randleman reached out to him at his breaking point.

Sewell shared, “I had this thought that I should really just end my life. I went onto Twitter like, ‘This is the end of the ropes and stuff like that.” But fate had other plans.

A notification popped up—a private message. The sender? None other than Kevin Randleman, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion. According to Sewell, “I think it was a private message. He was like, ‘Hey, are you okay? What’s going on?’ I just flat out said, ‘I’m just about to kill myself.’ He was like, ‘what’s your number?’ and I gave it to him. A couple minutes I get a call from a withheld number… He said, ‘Hello, is this Marcus?’ It was Kevin and I broke the f— down.”

For the next twenty minutes, Randleman poured his heart out, sharing his painful past. He didn’t sugarcoat anything. He spoke about hardship and trauma. But more importantly, he spoke about survival.

And when the conversation neared its end, Randleman left him with one crucial demand, “You have to do something about it. I don’t want you to get off this phone and not do nothing about it. Do something about it.”

“If Kevin hadn’t talked to me about it. I wouldn’t have faced that issue. Without Kevin Randleman calling me, I’d probably be dead in the ground,” he admitted. In the end, Kevin Randleman’s legacy isn’t just etched in championship history or highlight reels. It lives on in the people he inspired, the lives he saved, and the friendships that will never fade. Some fighters leave their mark with belts and records. ‘The Monster’ left his trace in something far greater—human hearts.