Remco Pardoel fighting Vale Tudo in the UK

Report by SFUK Holland

When Keith Dace contacted me to help him with the fight card of the ‘’Sudden Impact show’’, the choice was made quick. Remco Pardoel was going to fight.

Arrangements were made, flights were booked and we were ready to go. Together with Remco I went to the biggest airport in Holland: Schiphol.

November 10^th 2001.

After a 45 minute drive we checked in, promoter Lee Johnstone arranged it all perfect. Tickets were reserved for us and we picked them up in no time.

We had to wait in the line for delivering our bags for the right plane. Although Remco is pretty famous in his sport, someone in our line was pretty famous in the music business today. No one less than: Alicia Keys. (she has a hit at the moment called : I Keep On Falling.) She didn’t wanted to be filmed, but would you believe me if I didn’t film her? No I don’t think so. So here is the proof.

After checking in and having 10 minutes before we left, Remco and I decided to go shopping tax free, after trying on shoes, clothes and other nice looking things we were waiting to pay. Then the worst thing that could happen at that moment happened, the intercom went on........: Pardoel and SFUK Holland please hurry to Gate 18 London Heathrow. We run as fast as possible and we made it, after the plane with Alicia Keys in it waited for 10 minutes for us! Haha.

Alicia Keys at airport Schiphol

After some reading and chatting in the air we landed in the afternoon in Heathrow. Were Lee Johnstone picked us up. We spooked about MMA, organising and Remco’s new nickname according to the Brits : Remco ‘’The Coconut Cracker’’ Pardoel, because of the brutal KO Orlando Weit in UFC 2. Note: no discriminating offence to anybody.

Promoter Lee Johnstone and Remco Pardoel.

After a 20 minute drive we arrived in Maidstone, at the Travel Inn Hotel. It was a perfect hotel. Remco and I decided to sleep a couple hours and then to go out clubbing.

After the sleeping Remco called our friend from the UK: Lee Murray. A couple weeks ago he went to our academy and trained there for a week. So we hooked up again and went with his friends to a good club called: Zents (or something). At the end the drinks started to do their work and I.........how do I say this polite.....became a bit sick! (I blame you Lee Murray, with those *&#@% after-shots.)

November 11^th 2001.

We were back in our hotel at 6 a clock in the morning. We slept until 16:00 and I still was sick from last night. I took a shower, freshed up, packed the bag for Remco and picked him up from his room. We had a light dinner and called for Lee Murray to pick us up. We went to: Ditton Community Centre.

Lee Johnstone was doing his first MMA show called: Sudden Impact. Under the supervision of UKMMA Championship. We came into a locker room were people were focusing themselves for their fights. I haven’t seen a single fight because I was with Remco all the time who had the Main fight at the end of the show. I never saw Remco that focused, it was the first time I was with him so close before a Vale Tudo fight. Nerves started to work, time was ticking away, the fight was getting closer.

The bouts before the main fights were as follow:

FIGHT 1.

Dan Spink (Harlow Free-Fight) VS Peter Sonelly (Oxford).

Dan Spink by tap out - strikes from mount.

FIGHT 2. (4 - man welterweight tournament).

Tom Wager (Harlow Free-Fight) VS John Williamson (Oxford).

John Williamson by stoppage - corner threw in the towel.

FIGHT 3 - (4-man welterweight tournament).

Dave McLoughlin (Cambridge) VS Chris David (South Africa).

Dave by rear naked choke in round 2.

FIGHT 4.

Jess Liudin (Pancrase) VS Rob Miller (Wales Vale Tudo).

Jess Liudin by traingle choke.

FIGHT 5

Long Nyugen (Aberdeen) VS Richard Stopgate (Wales Vale Tudo).

Stopgate by stoppage - corner threw in the towel.

FIGHT 6 - (4-Man welterweight tournament final).

John Williamson (Oxford) VS Dave McLoughlin (Cambridge).

McLoughlin by tap out - strikes form mount.

 

There was a break and Remco went for laid down to relax. At this point I went to the ring and spoke a few people. Some just for contacts, some for fighting, some for fun. The most impressive guy I met was the announcer of the matches. I believe Fred was his name. He was a nice guy, after chatting about his old days in Wrestling and MMA today I went back to Remco, I told him to get ready.

Remco concentrating/relaxing for his fight

Eyes like a starving lion, concentrated as hell and 100% ready to fight. As we walked to the ring followed by Lee Murray and his friends the crowd cheered well for Remco.

Lee Murray and SFUK Holland at the corner of Remco Pardoel

Remco’s opponent: Glenn Brown

FIGHT 7 – European Bout.

Remco Pardoel (Pardoel Sports, Holland) VS Glenn Brown (Birmingham).

Round one: Remco Pardoel wasn’t taking any risks and traded punches with the good boxer Glenn Brown. This guy had a powerful right punch and he was going for a KO for sure! Remco Pardoel took a couple good shots and Glenn Brown also including some hard low kicks. Ending the round by clinching.

Remco countering with a straight punch

 

Round two: Remco Pardoel opened with some counter shots and started clinching again. Within a minute or so he swept Glenn Brown's leg and took him down, where it took him 5 seconds to submit him.

.

Remco making a throw

Glenn Brown tapped out due a scarf hold from side mount

great sportsmanship from both sides

We went crazy out there, it's so cool to see your own people win! The show was over. And the crowd was satisfied. Remco fought well and was satisfied himself. I made some new contacts, chatted about the great show and had a few drinks.

We went to a club with our friends from the UK, had a few drinks and something to eat. We went back to the hotel and I felt asleep instantly.

Our UK friends!

November 12^th 2001.

Packing the bags and have a good breakfast with our friend ADCC Europe reporter: Carl Fisher. At 09:00 Lee Johnstone picked us up and we went the airport. We changed ideas, opinions and we arrived at Heathrow.

We went back to Holland. During the drive home we stopped by at Remco’s medical adviser. 3 time K-1 winner Peter Aerts was also there. Nice guy, friendly and preparing for December 8^th 2001 the K-1 show at the Tokio Dome in Japan.

MMA fighter Remco Pardoel and K1 champion Peter Aerts.

As usually the weekends to London seem to be perfect always. As always I would like to thank some people for their dedication and help:

Keith Dace: For making the first contact.

Lee Johnstone: For trusting us, helping us and giving a new breed of fighters a honest chance to fight. And putting up a great show for the fighters and the crowd.

Lee Murray and his friends: For all of you thanks for the great time and support!

Remco Pardoel: for trusting me and the fun we had.

Carl Fisher: for the fight coverage and everything you done for us.

The crowd: you were good for every fighter!

Everybody who I forgot, but you know we are grateful for you!

Remco will probably fight at the next Sudden Impact show to defend his title.

Team Pardoel will be back!!

SFUK Holland

holland@sfuk.net

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More notes by Keith Dace

FIGHT 1. Dan Spink (Harlow Free-Fight) VS Peter Sonelly (Oxford, with John Williamson) - Dan Spink by tap out - strikes from mount.

FIGHT 2. (4 - man welterweight tournament) Tom Wager (Harlow Free-Fight) VS John Williamson (Oxford) - John Williamson by stoppage (I threw in the towel) - I am so proud of Tom. I'm not even joking that he weighed in at 54kg and agreed readily to fight John Williamson at 70kg. He went straight at John when the bell rung and did his power rangers jumping 1-2 punch combo which staggered John and then basically it went to the ground. They went into the ropes and basicaly what happened was it was restarted and again ended up under the ropes with Toms head hanging over the apron. With absolutely nothing he could do and being hit in the head at the same time there was no other option but to stop the fight. BAD REF!!!

FIGHT 3 - (4-man welteweight tournament) Dave McLoughlin (Cambridge) VS Chris David (South Africa) - Dave by rear naked choke in round 2.

FIGHT 4 Jess Liudin (Pancrase) VS Rob Miller (Wales Vale Tudo) - Jess Liudin by superb traingle choke

FIGHT 5 Long Nguyen (Aberdeen) VS Richard Stopgate (Wales Vale Tudo) - Stopgate by stoppage - corner threw in the towel.

FIGHT 6 - (4-Man welterweight tournament final) John Williamson (Oxford) VS Dave McLoughlin (Cambridge) - McLoughlin by tap out - strikes form mount

FIGHT 7 - INTERNATIONAL SUPER FIGHT Remco Pardoel (Pardoel Sports, Holland) VS Glen Brown (Birmingham) - Remco by scarf hold choke from side mount. Remco really showed why he is consider such a good fighter by staying focused during quite a stratigic fight. Glen Showed really good hand skills and was by NO means out of his league. I really think Glen has what it takes to be the UK champion.