|
| weight_class = [[Heavyweight (MMA)|Heavyweight]]
| reach =
| style = [[Jujutsu]], [[Aikido]], [[Taekwondo]], [[Karate]], [[Boxing]], [[Judo]], [[Muay Thai]], [[SamboLuta (martial art)|SamboLivre]], [[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]]<ref name="BJJ Interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.bjjee.com/interview/ufc-2-vet-remco-pardoel-on-pioneering-bjj-in-europe-fighting-in-the-first-mundials-as-a-black-belt-his-flourishing-dj-career/|title=UFC 2 Vet Remco Pardoel On Pioneering BJJ In Europe, Fighting In The First Mundials In The Black Belt Division & His Flourishing DJ Career|date=20 March 2013|publisher=bjjee.com |accessdateaccess-date=2014-10-25}}</ref>
| stance =
| fighting_out_of =
| team = Pardoel Sports
| rank = ''{{color box|black}} 5th4th Dan Black Belt in [[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu]]''<br>''{{color box|black}} 2nd Black Belt in [[Taekwondo]]''<br>''{{color box|black}} 2nd Black Belt in [[Jujutsu]]''<br>''{{color box|black}} 1st Black Belt in [[Judo]]''
| years_active = 1994–2003
| mma_kowin = 2
}}
'''Remco Pardoel''' (born 23 May 1969) is a retired [[Dutch people|Dutch]]<ref>{{Cite web |title= Remco Pardoel |publisher= [[Sherdog]] |url= http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Remco-Pardoel-33 |archiveurlarchive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026231244/http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Remco-Pardoel-33 |archivedatearchive-date= October 26, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> [[mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Remco Pardoel |publisher= mixedmartialarts.com |url= http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/f/57A34A4D65FB97F7/Remco-Pardoel/ |archiveurlarchive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026215230/http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/f/57A34A4D65FB97F7/Remco-Pardoel/ |archivedatearchive-date= October 26, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> He competed in the [[Heavyweight (MMA)|heavyweight]]<ref>{{Cite web |title= Remco Pardoel |publisher= fightmatrix.com |url= http://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Remco+Pardoel/33/ |archiveurlarchive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026221234/http://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Remco+Pardoel/33/ |archivedatearchive-date= October 26, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> division. He has fought in promotions such as the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|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 (fighter)|Vernon White]], [[Minoru Suzuki]], and [[Marco Ruas]].<ref name="Pancrase">{{cite web|url=http://www.pancrase.co.jp/en/fighters/en/pardoel.html|title=Remco Pardoel Pancrase bio|publisher=pancrase.co.jp/en|accessdateaccess-date=2014-10-25}}</ref><ref name="BJJ Interview"/>
==Early career==
In 1994, Pardoel was invited to [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] at its event [[UFC 2]] in United States. Cornered by [[UFC 1]] finalist [[Gerard Gordeau]],<ref name=Brawl>{{cite book |title=Brawl: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Mixed Martial Arts Competition |author=Erich Krauss|date=November 10, 2010 |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=978-1554902385}}</ref> Remco was billed as a Jiu-Jitsu fighter,<ref name=Get/> and was pitted in the first round of the tournament against Alberto Cerro 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-hooking|fish hook]] in repeated occasions.<ref name=Get>[[John McCarthy (mixed martial arts)|John McCarthy]], ''Let's Get It On!: The Making of MMA and Its Ultimate Referee''</ref> At the end, Pardoel submitted him with a [[sode guruma jime]]. 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."<ref name=Gentry>{{cite book |title=No Holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution|author=Clyde Gentry|date=2005 |publisher=Milo Books |isbn=1903854105}}</ref>
Pardoel advanced to the next round and fought [[Muay Thai]] fighter [[Orlando Wiet]] in a memorable match.<ref name=UFC2>{{cite web|url=http://the-oratory.com/mma-review-51-ufc-2-no-way-out/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923203042/http://the-oratory.com/mma-review-51-ufc-2-no-way-out/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=MMA Review: #51: UFC 2: No Way Out|work=The Oratory|author=Scott Newman|date=2005-06-11|accessdateaccess-date=2016-09-17}}</ref> The heavier Pardoel executed a [[Throw (grappling)#Hip throws|hip throw]] and pinned Wiet on the mat with [[ura gatame]]. After some hesitation, the Jiu-Jitsu champion then proceeded to land seven brutal [[elbow strike]]s 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 get the match stopped.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constantaggression.com/the-3-most-important-fights-of-early-mma/|title=The 3 Most Important Fights Of Early MMA|work=Constant Aggression|date=2014-11-15|accessdateaccess-date=2016-09-17}}</ref> The Dutch contender went to the semi-finals to face UFC 1 winner [[Royce Gracie]], another Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu exponent. Seconds into the match, Royce captured Pardoel's back while standing, tripped him down and performed a gi choke, making Remco tap out.<ref name=UFC2/>
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 with [[kesa gatame]] and locking a [[Mount (grappling)|mounted]] Ezekiel choke. 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 [[Stomp (strike)|stomp]]s and they both met on the ground, where the Brazilian tried a straight-ankle lock to no avail. After some minutes of struggle, Ruas mounted Pardoel, and the latter opted to tap out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://the-oratory.com/mma-review-303/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923203110/http://the-oratory.com/mma-review-303/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 23, 2016|title=MMA Review: #67: UFC 7: The Brawl in Buffalo|work=The Oratory|author=Scott Newman|date=2005-12-07|accessdateaccess-date=2016-09-17}}</ref> Pardoel would later claim that Ruas was using some sort of body oil or lubricant to hinder his hold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/interviews/Remco-Pardoel-Interview-1694|title=Remco Pardoel Interview|work=Sherdog.com|author=Derek Callahan|date=2004-05-27|accessdateaccess-date=2016-09-17}}</ref> It would be Pardoel's last appearance in UFC.
==BJJ black belt controversy==
In 2023, Remco made false claims about receiving a record fast black belt and being the first European promoted to black belt in 1996.
Remco was awarded his black belt in 2007 by [[Vinicius Magalhães (Draculino)]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://slideyfoot.wordpress.com/category/history/ | title=History }}</ref> which today would make him a 5th4th degree black belt. He wore stripes on his belt according to Draculino's promotion up to 2023, when he suddenly claimed he was promoted to black belt already in 1996 by Fernando Yamasaki and [[Carlos Gracie Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=7263 | title=BJJ BELTCHECKER | Practitioner database & community based belt verification for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu }}</ref> This would hadhave made him the first European born BJJ black belt as well as the fastest ever to receive a BJJ black belt, in only 2 years and 2 months from getting his first BJJ lesson, from visiting Brazilians.
The claim seems to stem from the early days of international CBJJ competitions, when lower belts on several occasions were allowed to compete together with black belts (first BJJ World championship, first BJJ European championship etc.) and Remco was allowed to compete in the black belt division of the World championship in Rio 1996. Over the years, Remco has been very clear on that he had no belt in BJJ at the time and really did not belong in the top 8 bracket in the sport.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sfuk.tripod.com/interviews_01/remco_01.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010422192938/http://sfuk.tripod.com/interviews_01/remco_01.html | archive-date=2001-04-22 | title=Remco Pardoel : Submission Fighting UK Interviews }}</ref> He also competed as a BJJ purple belt in Budweiser Cup in the US in 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mixfight.nl/forum/showthread.php?50398-Remco-Pardoel-Budweiser-Jiu-Jitsu-World-Cup-(USA)!-results | title=Remco Pardoel@ Budweiser Jiu Jitsu World Cup (USA)! +results }}</ref> Remco himself has also confirmed that he was only the second person in Holland to receive a BJJ black belt.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mixfight.nl/forum/showthread.php?93840-Harold-Harder-heeft-zijn-zwarte-band-gekregen-van-Rickson-Gracie | title=Harold Harder heeft zijn zwarte band gekregen van Rickson Gracie }}</ref> An investigation on Beltchecker (readable only after logging in) has provided further evidence against Remco's new claims as well as word from Fernando Yamasaki that he has never promoted Remco to black belt.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.beltchecker.com/forum.php?p=read&type=1&id=63963 | title=BJJ BELTCHECKER | Practitioner database & community based belt verification for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu }}</ref>
In conclusion, he is still a legit 5th4th degree black belt (legit for 5th degree in 2026).
==Mixed martial arts record==
{{-Clear}}
{{MMArecordbox
| draws= 1
[[Category:Sportspeople from North Brabant]]
[[Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch people]] ▼[[Category:21st-century Dutch people]]
▲[[Category:20th-century Dutch peoplesportsmen]]
| 