Blast From The Past: Gilbert Yvel knocks out referee (VIDEO)
For all of you mixed martial arts fans that may not be as familiar as you’d like with Dutch knockout specialist and UFC newcomer Gilbert Yvel, you don’t know what you’ve been missing.
This may be the first time the veteran striker makes his way inside of the UFC Octagon fencing, but it’s far from his first rodeo. A true pioneer of the sport, Yvel was one of the first fighters to make Muay Thai sexy in MMA, utilizing his base in the striking art with great success throughout his career that began way back in 1997.
However, one thing you may not know about “The Hurricane” is that he was for a very long time viewed as the dirtiest fighter in the business, and for good reason.
Although Gilbert has undoubtedly done a great deal of growing up in recent years, the saying goes you can’t run from your past. In that spirit, check out one of Yvel’s most talked about offenses in the sport from back in November 2004 when the referee in charge of his “Fight Festival 12″ bout with Atte Backman just can’t seem to keep his hands to himself…
Yvel will be facing off with fellow knockout artist Junior dos Santos during the main portion of UFC 108, which takes place this Saturday evening, January 2, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Cory Brady is the managing editor of FiveOuncesOfPain.com, along with being a regular feature writer with Ultimate MMA Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/corybrady
| All posts by Cory Brady
Gotta love that competitive spirit. After watching it though that ref was really having some trouble and should have called it after the second attempet to restart when Gilbert pushed him off.
i really don’t see how or why Gilbert got into the UFC at this stage, this is one signing i really don’t understand. its not even like he’d be a big draw at another organization either
Hopefully he will knock out Mazzagatti! LOL
If he does knock out a UFC ref, I wonder what kind of fight bonus he’ll get?!
How much you wanna bet that goldie will be saying how gilbert is true class!? He says that about even the biggest assholes you can find!
Quote from Goldie- “Look at how Gilbert is walking over making sure the ref he just knocked out is ok, man he is pure class!”
Gilbert’s side of the story is that the ref was being a complete asshole, and his opponent had fouled him three or four times already. With the ref seeing it, and doing nothing.
If that’s the case… next time make sure the cameras aren’t rolling
Story is much deeper,
From Bitting Barkaelev,
To Almost destryoing Don Frye’s Eyes
to Knocking out a Referee
(who might have deserved it, but he could of just have walked away)
3 Disqualitfications is a huge number for one Career,
Everybody deserves a chance, hopefully he acts like a Gentleman
in the Ufc.
Yvel definitely can’t run from his past, like the way he was crushed in the bout with Josh Barnett. He’s another good striker that can put on an exciting fight, as long as he doesn’t have to contend with a well rounded opponent with strong ground skills.
Junior dos Santos should present a good challenge for Yvel, known for his own prowess in the striking game. Be interesting to see if dos Santos tries to take the fight to the mat and apply some BJJ, or if he sticks with his strength and goes toe to toe with this Muay Thai scrapper.
p.s.- have to respect Yvel for 51 fights, and if I’m doing the math correctly, he turned pro at 16…
Santos is in trouble here. Yvel will hurt him early.