Former UFC superstar Kevin Randleman dies age 44

Fox Sports reported on Thursday night that Randleman was admitted to hospital in San Diego with pneumonia, but died of heart failure.

Randleman was a star wrestler in college, twice an NCAA champion, before moving into MMA.

And as Damon Martin of Fox Sports wrote, he went on to become "one of the most feared men in the Octagon", with "a reputation as one of the most powerful and explosive fighters in the history of the sport."

After starting his career in Brazil he switched to the UFC in 1999, winning his first fight in March of that year against Maurice Smith by a unanimous decision.

The same November, he claimed the heavyweight title with another unanimous decision, and went on to successfully defend the title before eventually losing it to Randy Couture.

He moved to the PRIDE series in Japan in 2002, fighting for several years, but had just a handful of bouts since 2006, and last fought in 2011.