Kevin Rosier
Born(1962-01-06)January 6, 1962
Buffalo, New York, United States
DiedApril 14, 2015(2015-04-14) (aged 53)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
ResidenceLancaster, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st)
DivisionHeavyweight (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA)
Reach79 in (201 cm)
StyleKarate, Boxing, Aikido, Judo
Fighting out ofTampa, Florida
Rank  Black Belt in Karate
Years active1980–1999 (Kickboxing)
1989–2001 (Boxing)
1993–2000 (MMA)
Professional boxing record
Total24
Wins7
By knockout6
Losses17
By knockout7
Kickboxing record
Total74
Wins66
By knockout66
Losses8
Mixed martial arts record
Total8
Wins2
By knockout1
By submission1
Losses6
By knockout3
By submission3
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kevin Rosier (January 6, 1962 – April 14, 2015) was an American kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. He had much success as a kickboxer, winning a number of titles, but did not transition particularly well into the world of boxing and was mostly seen as a journeyman fighter. Notably, he also took part at the inaugural Ultimate Fighting Championship event in 1993 where he reached the semi-finals.

Career

Kickboxing and boxing

Rosier spent the majority of his fighting career in kickboxing where he held a record of 66 wins, all by knockout, and 8 losses. He was also the 3x WKA World Super Heavyweight Champion and ISKA North American Super Heavyweight Champion.[1] His kickboxing career began in the 1980s and his last bout came in 1999 when he lost to Mike Labree in a fight for the vacant IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Full Contact Rules Super Heavyweight World Title on May 15, 1999 in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. At 26 seconds into round 10, LaBree caught Rosier with a short left to the head and Rosier went down to his knees and the bout was stopped.[2]

He also had a 12-year career as a professional boxer in which he held a 7–17 record. He fought between 1989 and 2001 and came up against a number of high-profile opponents including Josué Blocus, Roman Bugaj, Tye Fields, Vincent Maddalone, Joe Mesi, Nikolai Valuev, Taurus Sykes, Dan Voss Jr and Paea Wolfgramm.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 1993, with only five weeks notice, Rosier elicited the help of his former student World Kickboxing Champion A.J. Verel to coach and train him for UFC 1, the very first mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His first match in the tournament, the second in the card, pitted him against American Kenpo expert and two-time World Kickboxing Federation super heavyweight champion Zane Frazier.[3]

Rosier opened the match knocking Frazier down with punches, knee strikes and an elbow strike to the turtled up Frazier's back,[4] but his opponent recovered and went to exchange knee strikes with him in the clinch.[3] At that moment, capitalizing on the lack of regulation about hair pulling and groin attacks, Frazier managed to take over by striking Rosier with a low blow and dragging him by the hair.[4][5] The kenpo fighter dominated the fight with striking combinations both standing and on their knees,[4] even breaking Rosier's jaw with a right hand.[5] Some minutes later, however, Frazier slowed down due to exhaustion, allowing Rosier to recover and come back with several punches that put Frazier against the fence. Rosier then pushed him down to the mat and scored multiple punches and stomps to the back of the head until Frazier's corner threw the towel.[3][4][5]

In the semifinals, Rosier came up against Dutch savate fighter Gerard Gordeau. The Dutchman targeted Rosier's knees with leg kicks and kept distance with him through jabbing. When Rosier was forced to cover down after a barrage of knees and elbows, Gordeau scored a stomp to the spleen, prompting Rosier to tap on the mat, signalling his submission.[4] Although eliminated from the tournament, Rosier praised Gordeau and expressed the desire to return.[4]

After this, he continued to compete in MMA and next fought at UFC 4 where he lost via submission 14 seconds into his bout with "The Ghetto Man" Joe Charles. He competed five more times in MMA, losing four and winning one, and retired with a record of two wins and six losses.

Later life

After retiring from competition, Kevin suffered several bouts of illness (including open-heart surgery and a nearly fatal fall while already in intensive care). By August 2013, Kevin was in stable health & reportedly residing in a retirement resort in Nashville.

In April 2015, Rosier died of an apparent heart attack.[6]

Championships and awards

Kickboxing

  • 1994 WKKC (World Karate and Kickboxing Council) World Superheavyweight Champion
  • 1990 WKA (World Karate Association) World Superheavyweight Champion (above the waist)
  • 1990 ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) North American Superheavyweight Champion
  • 3X WKA (World Kickboxing Association) World Superheavyweight Champion
  • 1989 All-Japan World Champion
  • 1987 United States Kung-Fu Karate National No-Rules Tournament Champion
  • 1989 WKA (World Karate Association) World Championship Title Fight (full contact karate)[7]

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
66 wins (66 KOs), 8 losses, 0 draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTimeRecord
1999-05-15LossUnited States Mike LabreeMass Destruction: The Ultimate Night of FightingLowell, Massachusetts, USATKO (left hook)100:2666-8
For the IKF World Super Heavyweight Full Contact Championship.
1994-00-00WinUnited States Houston DorrBiloxi, Mississippi, USAKO (right hook)21:25
Wins the WKKC World Super Heavyweight Championship.
1990-01-20LossUnited States Maurice SmithAJKF: Inspiring Wars 1Tokyo, JapanKO (left jab and right overhand)21:4215-4
For the WKA World Heavyweight Championship.
1989-05-14WinUnited States Don Nakaya NielsenAJKF: Knockout of the Century - Part 3Tokyo, JapanTKO (referee stoppage/right uppercut)61:0515-2
Retains WKA World Super Heavyweight Championship.
1989-04-27WinUnited States Dan Voss JrCoors: SUPERFIGHTS Full Contact Karate -Santa Clara, CATKO (referee stoppage)21:36
Retains WKA World Super Heavyweight Championship.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
8 matches 2 wins 6 losses
By knockout 1 3
By submission 1 3
By decision 0 0
Draws 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 2–6 Brad Gabriel TKO (punches) IFC: Battleground 2000 January 22, 2000 1 1:12 Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada
Win 2–5 Joe Bramante Submission (rear-naked choke) IFC: Fighters Revenge April 2, 1999 1 1:01 Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada
Loss 1–5 Dan Severn Submission Cage Combat 1 December 8, 1998 1 1:00 Conesville, Iowa, United States
Loss 1–4 Dan Severn TKO (knees) Extreme Challenge 15 February 27, 1998 1 0:53 Muncie, Indiana, United States
Loss 1-3 Houston Dorr Submission (guillotine choke) IFC 2: Mayhem in Mississippi August 23, 1996 1 11:10 Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Loss 1–2 Joe Charles Submission (armbar) UFC 4 December 16, 1994 1 0:14 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Loss 1–1 Gerard Gordeau TKO (corner stoppage) UFC 1 November 12, 1993 1 0:59 Denver, Colorado, United States Semifinal bout.
Win 1–0 Zane Frazier TKO (corner stoppage) 1 4:20 Quarterfinal bout.

Professional boxing record

7 Wins (6 knockouts, 1 decision, 0 disqualification), 17 Losses, 0 Draws, 0 No Contests
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 7–17 United States Carlton Johnson UD6 (6), 3:00 01/12/2001United States Chester, West Virginia, U.S.
Loss 7–16 France Josué Blocus TKO1 (?), N/A 09/12/2000France Villeurbanne, France
Loss 7–15 United States Tye Fields TKO1 (4), 1:37 28/04/2000United States Mashantucket, Connecticut, U.S.
Loss 7–14 United States Keith Govan UD4 (4), 3:00 06/04/2000United States Worley, Idaho, U.S.
Loss 7–13 United States Vinny Maddalone PTS6 (6), 3:00 14/03/2000United States Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Loss 7–12 Poland Roman Bugaj UD4 (4), 3:00 02/03/2000United States Rosemont, Illinois, U.S.
Loss 7–11 United StatesTaurus Sykes PTS4 (4), 3:00 24/02/2000United States New York, New York, U.S.
Loss 7–10 United States Shannon Miller UD4 (4), 3:00 19/11/1999United States Verona, New York, U.S.
Loss 7–9 United States Brian Hollins UD4 (4), 3:00 17/09/1999United States Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Loss 7–8 United States Derrick Brown PTS4 (4), 3:00 11/06/1999United States Verona, New York, U.S.
Loss 7–7 United States Bradley Rone PTS4 (4), 3:00 03/06/1999United States Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.
Win 7–6 United States Dave Slaughter TKO4 (6), 2:56 29/01/1999United States Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Win 6–6 United States Ed Gissendanner TKO1 (6), 1:55 27/11/1998United States Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Win 5–6 United States Tony Velasco UD8 (8), 3:00 30/10/1998United States Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Loss 4–6 United States Joe Mesi TKO2 (4), N/A 26/07/1998United States Verona, New York, U.S.
Loss 4–5 Tonga Paea Wolfgramm TKO1 (6), 1:12 16/01/1998United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Loss 4–4 Russia Nikolai Valuev KO1 (?), N/A 27/09/1997Russia Moscow, Russia
Win 4–3 Finland Christer Markusas TKO2 (?), N/A 06/09/1997United States Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Win 3–3 United States Jim Ellis TKO2 (?), N/A 27/08/1994United States Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win 2–3 United States Lee Moore TKO3 (?), N/A 12/11/1990United States Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Loss 1–3 United States David Dixon TKO1 (?), N/A 07/04/1990United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Win 1–2 United States John Elacqua TKO2 (?), N/A 0/03/1989United States Laughlin, Nevada, U.S.
Loss 0–2 United States Curtis Jackson PTS4 (4), N/A 28/02/1989United States Inglewood, California, U.S.
Loss 0–1 United States Andrew Matthews TKO1 (?), N/A 14/01/1989United States Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

References

  1. ↑ UFC 1 DVD
  2. ↑ "Where Is He Now...IKF Takes A Look Back At KEVIN ROSIER".
  3. 1 2 3 Don Beu, The Ultimate Fighting Championship: Jujutsu and Royce Gracie Reign Supreme at No-Holds-Barred Tournament, Black Belt magazine, March 1994
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scott Newman (2005-07-06). "MMA Review: #50: UFC 1: The Beginning". The Oratory. Archived from the original on 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
  5. 1 2 3 L. Jon Wertheim (January 5, 2010). Blood in the Cage: Mixed Martial Arts, Pat Miletich, and the Furious Rise of the UFC. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780547347226.
  6. ↑ Marc Raimondi (2015-04-14). "UFC 1 veteran Kevin Rosier dead at age 53". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
  7. ↑ The Ventura County Star Free Press, Oxnard Press Courier
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