Randy Brown (fighter)

Randall Joseph Brown (born July 8, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2014, he has formerly competed for Ring of Combat and became the Welterweight Ring of Combat Champion in 2015.

Background
Brown was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Jamaican parents, but moved to Spanish Town, Jamaica as a toddler with his mother as she was deported. His father is serving a triple-life sentence and has been incarcerated for most of Randy's life. Randy moved back to the United States at the age of 16 and attended Jamaica High School. He started boxing in 2005 before transitioning to mixed martial arts at the age of 19 and had six amateur fights before turning pro in 2014. Brown has a son.

Early career
Brown began his professional fighting career in 2014, making his professional debut at Ring of Combat 48. Brown won the fight against Steve Tyrrell via submission in round one. He trains out of Budokan Martial Arts Academy, a Renzo Gracie BJJ affiliate.

Ring of Combat
Brown had 6 fights in the promotion winning all 6 by stoppage in the first or second round. He won the Ring of Combat welterweight belt by beating Mike Winters by second-round TKO.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Brown was featured on Dana Whites Looking For A Fight where he knocked out Robert Plotkin at Ring of Combat 53. He was signed to the UFC soon after.

Brown made his promotional debut against Matt Dwyer on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader. Brown won the fight via unanimous decision.

Brown faced Michael Graves on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Brown returned to face Erick Montaño on September 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Brown was expected to face promotional newcomer Charlie Ward on December 9, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 102. However, Ward was pulled from the event due in early November due to alleged visa issues which restricted his travel and was replaced by fellow newcomer Brian Camozzi. Brown won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Brown was expected to face George Sullivan on February 11, 2017, at UFC 208. However, on January 26, Sullivan was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected earlier this year. Belal Muhammad was the eventual replacement. Brown lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Brown faced Mickey Gall on November 4, 2017, at UFC 217. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Brown faced Niko Price on July 14, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 133. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round after Price landed several hammerfists from the bottom to knock Brown out.

Brown was expected to face Chance Rencountre on January 19, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 143. However, Brown pulled out of the fight in early January for undisclosed reasons.

Brown faced Bryan Barberena on June 22, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 154. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Brown faced Warlley Alves at UFC Fight Night 164 on November 16, 2019. He won the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Brown was scheduled to face Vicente Luque on April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed.

The bout with Luque was rescheduled and took place on August 1, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. Brown lost the fight by knockout in the second round.

Brown was expected to face Alex Oliveira on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186. However, Brown pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event due to undisclosed reasons. The pair was rescheduled and they eventually met at UFC 261 on April 24, 2021. Brown won the fight via a one-armed rear naked choke in the first round.

Brown faced Jared Gooden on October 9, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 194. At the weight-ins, Gooden weighted 174 pounds, three pounds over the limit of non-championship welterweight bouts. The bout proceeded to a catchweight bout. Gooden was fined 20% of his purse and it went to Brown. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Brown faced Khaos Williams on May 7, 2022, at UFC 274. He won the fight via split decision.

Brown faced Francisco Trinaldo on October 1, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 211. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Brown faced Jack Della Maddalena on February 12, 2023, at UFC 284 He lost the bout via first round submission.

Brown faced Wellington Turman on June 24, 2023, at UFC on ABC 5. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Brown was scheduled to face Muslim Salikhov on December 16, 2023, at UFC 296. However, the bout was scrapped after Brown withdrew due to illness. The pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night 235 on February 3, 2024. Brown won by first-round knockout with a right-hand punch. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Brown faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Professional grappling career
Brown competed in the main event of Rise Invitational 11 on April 1, 2023, against 10th Planet black belt Rene Sousa. Brown was submitted with a triangle-armbar.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Warlley Alves and Muslim Salikhov
 * Ring of Combat
 * Ring of Combat welterweight champion (One time)
 * Two successful title defenses
 * MMAjunkie.com
 * 2021 April Submission of the Month vs. Alex Oliveira