Orlando Wiet, a pioneering figure in mixed martial arts and a celebrated champion across various kickboxing and Muay Thai organizations, has passed away at the age of 60. Wiet notably competed in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, making his appearance at UFC 2 in 1994.
The fighter, who hailed from Paramaribo, Suriname, and represented France in his career, reportedly died on Thursday. His passing was confirmed by his coach, Milton Felter. While a cause of death has not been officially disclosed, social media posts indicated Wiet had been hospitalized since February.
During his tenure at UFC 2, Wiet secured a victory over Robert Lucarelli via technical knockout, utilizing knees to the head. He went on to compete later that same evening but was ultimately defeated by Remco Pardoel, who delivered elbows on the ground.