Orlando Wiet, a respected figure in the world of combat sports, an accomplished champion across various kickboxing and Muay Thai organizations, and a mixed martial arts pioneer who notably competed at UFC 2 in 1994, has passed away at the age of 60.
Originally from Paramaribo, Suriname, and representing France during his fighting career, Wiet’s death on Thursday was confirmed by his coach, Milton Felter. While the news was initially reported by Vechtsport, the specific cause of his passing has not been publicly disclosed. Social media posts from February had indicated that Wiet was hospitalized prior to his death.
During his appearance at UFC 2, Wiet secured a victory over Robert Lucarelli via technical knockout, utilizing knees to the head. He competed again later the same evening but was subsequently defeated by Remco Pardoel due to elbows delivered from a ground position.