Orlando Wiet, a respected figure in the world of combat sports and an early pioneer of mixed martial arts, has passed away at the age of 60. Wiet, known for his championships in multiple kickboxing and Muay Thai organizations, made his mark on the MMA scene by competing at UFC 2 in 1994.
Born in Paramaribo, Suriname, and representing France throughout his 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. Reports from social media indicated that Wiet had been hospitalized in February.
During his notable appearance at UFC 2, Wiet secured a victory over Robert Lucarelli via technical knockout, utilizing knees to the head. He continued to fight later that same evening, where he was ultimately defeated by Remco Pardoel due to elbows on the ground.
