Sherdog’s Top 10: Canceled Fights

Kevin Randleman slipped backstage at UFC 24. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

(+ Enlarge) | Photo: Mike Fridley/Sherdog.com

Rizzo never won UFC gold.

7. Kevin Randleman vs. Pedro Rizzo
UFC 24 “First Defense” | March 10, 2000

UFC 24 was scheduled to feature newly crowned heavyweight champion Randleman’s first defense of his title against touted Brazilian Rizzo, who had already notched victories over David “Tank” Abbot, Tra Telligman and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka and looked like one of the most promising up-and-comers in the sport. Randleman, a national champion wrestler at Ohio State University, had overcome a close split decision loss to Bas Rutten to claim the belt against Pete Williams.

It was a highly anticipated scrap and a fantastic matchup between an exceptionally accomplished wrestler and a highly talented kickboxer. In one of the stranger developments in the history of the sport, however, Randleman slipped and fell backstage, knocking himself out cold. He had to be rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion, meaning his fight with Rizzo did not go forward as planned. To make the whole thing even stranger, the crowd was not notified of the incident until the end of the show.

Rizzo and Randleman eventually met at UFC 26, where the American took a unanimous decision and defended the title he would eventually lose to Randy Couture.

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