Randy Brown and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos are set to open the main card for UFC 302. Brown is coming fresh off a victory against Muslim Salikhov. With a record of 18 wins and 5 losses, the mixed martial artist expects to lengthen his current 2-fight winning streak. On the other hand, dos Santos ended his last bout in a draw. With significantly more number of fights under his name, ‘Capoeira’ boasts a record of 24 wins and 7 losses. Surprisingly, dos Santos also had a 2-fight winning streak before his last draw against Rinat Fakhretdinov. 

But let’s shift our focus to the fighters’ personal life. Did you know that he was in prison for almost 30 years? Needless to say, getting separated from his father at the tender age of 2 was quite devastating for the Jamaican mixed martial artist. But why was Brown’s father sent to jail? Let’s find out about it in detail.

From Prison to God- here’s the story of Randy Brown’s father!

In an interview with Ariel Helwani on his talk show, ‘The MMA Hour’, ‘Rudeboy’ revealed that his father was in the Lewisburg prison under the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act. His father has been in jail for about three decades now. The mixed martial artist further revealed that his father got three life sentences.

Brown voiced, “He was a guy, he ran operations where they moved drugs, they did certain things — they robbed, extortion, all type of stuff. They were after him and eventually they got him and he went down under RICO and that was it. They gave him three life sentences.”

The RICO Act came into effect back in 1970 and was instituted to allow for extended criminal penalties for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. Brown revealed that his mother was sent back to Jamaica after his father’s conviction, and that was where he grew up. However, the fighter didn’t lose touch with his father and kept contacting him via phone calls and visits to the prison.

Brown revealed, “I see him almost like twice a month. A lot of people don’t realize that I actually had my dad in my life the entire time, even when I got sent to Jamaica I’d speak to him almost everyday. Then when I came back up, leave for the summers to come back to America, they’d bring me to go visit him.”

But if you’re concerned with Brown’s father being a bad guy, the fighter’s verdict will change your mind. ‘Rudeboy’ declared that his father was now a changed man who has now devoted his life to the Almighty. 

Later, the fighter opined that it was time for his father to experience freedom. He wanted his father to spend some time with his grandchildren. But that doesn’t mean his father can’t watch his fights. Although it’s not live, Brown’s father can always cheer for his son whenever his fights are televised on linear TV.

What is the RICO Act?

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was brought into action in order to thwart criminal organizations. One of the most important and infamous cases revolving around this act is the John Gotti vs. United States case. It was declared ‘The Trial of the Century’ by media houses, when John Gotti, the leader of the Gambino crime family faced several charges under the RICO Act, back in 1990. This case illustrated how efficacious the RICO Act can be in order to disintegrate criminal syndicates. It is indeed one of the most powerful weapons that the States can procure to battle prominent criminals. 

Although Brown’s surname was tainted a few decades ago, he is set to change it all. He declared that he works hard to set a good example for his son. “My job now as an MMA fighter, this small thing that I do. I want to change my entire name for everyone,” Brown said.

Would Brown be able to continue his winning streak at UFC 302? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.