Remco Pardoel

Remco Pardoel is a retired Dutch^[1] mixed martial artist.^[2] He competed in the Heavyweight^[3] division. He has fought in promotions such as the UFC, Shooto and Pancrase. He was a junior national champion in Judo in 1988, and a competitive BJJ grappler. He made his MMA debut at UFC 2, eventually losing to Royce Gracie. Over the course of his career he fought Vernon White, Minoru Suzuki, and Marco Ruas.^[4][5]

Early career

Pardoel began his martial arts career at age 4 when he first began training in judo.^[5] At age 7, he began training in taekwondo and took up jiu-jitsu at age 11.^[5] He won gold at the 1988 Junior National Judo Championships in the Netherlands, followed by a number of jiu-jitsu titles across Europe.^[4][5] He first came across Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1993 when the sport's first World Championship was held in Denmark.^[5] There, he met Fabio Gurgel and Romero Cavalcanti, who taught him some of the sport's techniques.^[5] He would invite Cavalcanti back to the Netherlands on numerous occasions to teach classes and do seminars in his hometown of Oss, starting in 1993.^[5]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 1994, Pardoel was invited to Ultimate Fighting Championship at its event UFC 2 in United States. Cornered by UFC 1 runner-up Gerard Gordeau,^[6] Remco was billed as a jiu-jitsu fighter, and was pitted in the first round of the tournament against Alberto Cerra León, a Spanish pencak silat practitioner. The bout was long and violent, as although Pardoel threw León to the ground early, the Spaniard resisted his armlock attempts and even tried an illegal fish hook in repetead occasions.^[7] At the end, Pardoel submitted him to an armbar. The Dutch fighter was later quoted as: "Alberto was the reason to enter the UFC for me… In Europe, the guys from pencak silat and wing chun are badmouthing all other styles by saying and writing that they are invincible, which [they're] not. So the best way to prove that they are wrong is to challenge them."^[8]

Pardoel advanced round and fought kickboxer Orlando Wiet in a memorable match.^[9] The heavier Pardoel executed a hip throw and pinned Wiet on the mat, and after some hesitation, proceeded to land seven brutal elbow strikes on Wiet's temple, resulting in a knockout. Wiet was actually rendered unconscious after the second blow, and Pardoel himself had to speak to the referee in order to stop the match.^[10] The Dutch contender went to the semi-finals to face UFC 1 winner Royce Gracie. Seconds into the match, Royce captured Pardoel's back, tripped him down and performed a gi choke, making Remco tap out.^[9]

He returned to UFC in September 1995 at the event UFC 7. His first opponent would be karateka Ryan Parker, whom he defeated in swift fashion by throwing him down, pinning him and trying a series of chokes until getting one with Parker's karategi lapel. The Dutchman advanced to meet luta livre legend Marco Ruas, also the eventual winner. Pardoel got a guillotine choke early, but Ruas escaped via foot stomps and they met on the ground, where the Brazilian tried a heel hook. After some minutes of struggle, Ruas gained full mount and Pardoel opted for tapping out.^[11] Pardoel would later claim that Ruas was using some sort of body oil or lubricant to hinder his hold.^[12] It would be Pardoel's last apparition in UFC.

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists

References

External links

• Professional MMA record for Remco Pardoel from Sherdog
  
• Remco Pardoel at mixedmartialarts.com
• Remco Pardoel at fightmatrix.com