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The reinvigorated Black Lives Matter movement is a reminder that racial profiling affects everyone of color, including a world-caliber athlete like Kevin Randleman.
Kevin Randleman was a lot of things: a UFC champion, a Hall of Famer, a NCAA Division 1 standout, and a Black man. That last note was enough for one police officer to threaten Randleman’s life, according to Eric Smith — a former fighter, Randleman’s college roomate and best man.
Smith shared the story in an MMA TRUFAN docu-series celebrating the life and career of the late MMA star. The incident occurred during college in Randleman’s homestate of Ohio. “The Monster” was a native of Sandusky, Ohio and attended Ohio State.
“There was a cop that once put a gun in his mouth. That was back in Sandusky,” Smith said. “There was a time when we left a bar down on High Street. There used to be a whole bunch of bars right on High Street. Kevin got maced for no reason. I think they were just spraying mace and he whipped around and I guess when he whipped around he accidentally hit a cop and they threw him in the paddy wagon for that. That was a little racially charged just because it was a different time back then.”
Smith said the troubling police encounter took place around the same time as the Rodney King Riots and O.J. Simpson murder case.
Globally, members of the public continue to speak out against systematic racism and racial inequality following the disturbing death of George Floyd in police custody. Last week, 14 UFC fighters came together to stand up for Black Lives Matter.