Randleman Cleared For Strikeforce Bout With Gracie

Kevin Randleman has been medically cleared to fight Roger Gracie at next Saturday’s “Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery” show in St. Louis. Randleman had been battling a staph infection that threatened his ability to participate in the bout.

MMA Junkie reported the news this afternoon.

The Missouri State Athletic Commission cleared Randleman to take the antibiotics that will allow him to recover from the staph infection in time for the fight. Randleman came down with the infection while training for the fight in Las Vegas.

Randleman, a former UFC heavyweight champion, last competed in a Sengoku event in Japan, losing a split decision to Stanislav Nedkov in November. He also dropped a decision loss to Mike Whitehead in his Strikeforce debut last June.

Gracie, considered by many to be the best submission grappler in the world (and certainly the best heavyweight grappler), will be making his Strikeforce debut.

“Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery” is headlined by a Strikeforce heavyweight championship bout between Alistair Overeem and Brett Rogers.