Gilbert Yvel
 |
Name | Gilbert Yvel |
| Nickname | The Hurricane | |
| Association | Vos Gym | |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight (243 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 2" (188 cm) | |
| Style | Muay Thai, Kickboxing | |
| Birth Date | June 30, 1976 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Amsterdam, Holland | |
| Country | Holland | |
| Gilbert Yvel Pictures | Official Website |
Gilbert "The Hurricane" Yvel is a Dutch mixed martial artist who competes as a Heavyweight. He is associated with the Vos Gym training camp in the Netherlands.
Yvel is known as primarily a stand-up fighter, possessing an arsenal of strikes and kicks as befitting his Muay Thai training, and is famous for his signature "flying knee" strike. Yvel's grappling is usually considered sub-par. Although he owns a few wins via submission, many of his losses were due to opponents taking him down and outwrestling or submitting him.
Gilbert is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt under John Lewis.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 38 - 16 - 1 (Win – Loss – Draw) (1 NC) |
| Wins | 32 (T)KOs 6 Submissions 0 Decisions |
| Losses | 5 (T)KOs 3 Submissions 5 Decisions 3 Other |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Houston Alexander | KO (Punch) | RFA 2: Yvel vs. Alexander | 3/30/2012 | 1 | 3:59 | |
| Win | Damian Dantibo | Submission (Punches) | RFA 1: Resurrection Fight Alliance | 12/16/2011 | 1 | 3:12 | |
| Loss | Jon Madsen | TKO (Punches) | UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez | 10/23/2010 | 1 | 1:48 | |
| Loss | Ben Rothwell | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin | 6/12/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Junior dos Santos | TKO (Punches) | UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva | 1/02/2010 | 1 | 2:07 | |
| Win | Pedro Rizzo | KO (Punches) | FFI: Ultimate Chaos | 6/27/2009 | 1 | 2:10 | Winner was to earn a spot on Affliction: Trilogy to face Paul Buentello |
| Loss | Josh Barnett | Submission (Punches) | Affliction: Day of Reckoning | 1/24/2009 | 3 | 3:05 | |
| Win | Alexander Timonov | TKO (Punches) | M-1 Challenge 9: Russia | 11/21/2008 | 1 | 0:22 | |
| Win | Sergey Shemetov | Submission (Toe Hold) | KOE: Tough is not Enough | 10/05/2008 | 1 | 0:53 | |
| Win | Michael Kita | KO | GFN: Gentlemen Fight Night | 5/24/2008 | 2 | N/A | |
| Win | Hakim Goram | TKO | K-1: World GP in Amsterdam | 6/23/2007 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Akira Shoji | TKO (Punches) | PRIDE 34: Kamikaze | 4/08/2007 | 1 | 3:04 | |
| Win | Rodney Glunder | TKO | 2H2H: Pride & Honor | 11/12/2006 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Fabiano Scherner | TKO (Punches) | CR 17: Ultimate Challenge | 7/01/2006 | 1 | 1:30 | |
| Loss | Roman Zentsov | KO (Punch) | PRIDE: Total Elimination Absolute | 5/05/2006 | 1 | 4:55 | |
| Win | Valentijn Overeem | Submission (Armbar) | It's Showtime: Amsterdam Arena | 6/12/2005 | 1 | 4:30 | |
| Loss | Ikuhisa Minowa | Submission (Toe Hold) | PRIDE Bushido 6 | 4/03/2005 | 1 | 1:10 | |
| Loss | Atte Backman | DQ (KO'd the Referee) | FF 12: Fight Festival 12 | 11/13/2004 | 1 | 0:35 | Yvel refused to re-assume a previous disadvantageous position, KO'ing the Ref |
| Win | Cheick Kongo | TKO (Punches) | It's Showtime: Amsterdam Arena | 5/20/2004 | 2 | N/A | |
| Draw | Daniel Tabera | Draw | M-1 MFC: Russia vs. the World 7 | 12/05/2003 | 1 | 10:00 | |
| Loss | Jeremy Horn | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE 21: Demolition | 6/23/2002 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Bob Schrijber | TKO | 2H2H 4: Simply the Best 4 | 3/17/2002 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Ibragim Magomedov | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | M-1 MFC: Russia vs. the World 2 | 11/11/2001 | N/A | 2:45 | |
| Loss | Don Frye | DQ (Eye Gouging) | PRIDE 16: Beasts from the East | 9/24/2001 | 1 | 7:27 | Yvel disqualified for gouging Frye's eye |
| Loss | Igor Vovchanchyn | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | PRIDE 14: Clash of the Titans | 5/27/2001 | 1 | 1:52 | |
| Win | Carlos Barreto | KO (Flying Knee) | 2H2H 2: Simply the Best | 3/18/2001 | 1 | 2:20 | |
| Loss | Kazuyuki Fujita | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE 12: Cold Fury | 12/09/2000 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| NC | Wanderlei Silva | No Contest (Yvel Kicked in Groin) | PRIDE 11: Battle of the Rising Sun | 10/31/2000 | 1 | 0:21 | |
| Win | Gary Goodridge | KO (Head Kick) | PRIDE 10: Return of the Warriors | 8/27/2000 | 1 | 0:28 | |
| Loss | Vitor Belfort | Decision (Unanimous) | PRIDE 9: New Blood | 6/04/2000 | 2 | 10:00 | |
| Win | Kiyoshi Tamura | TKO (Strikes) | Rings: Millennium Combine 1 | 4/20/2000 | 1 | 13:13 | |
| Win | Brian Dunn | TKO (Punches) | 2H2H 1: 2 Hot 2 Handle | 3/05/2000 | 1 | 0:21 | |
| Loss | Dan Henderson | Decision (Unanimous) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Final | 2/26/2000 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Joop Kasteel | KO (Palm Strikes) | Rings Holland: There Can Only Be One Champion | 2/06/2000 | 1 | 4:16 | |
| Win | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (Cut) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | 12/22/1999 | 1 | 1:17 | |
| Win | Tariel Bitsadze | Submission (Armbar) | Rings: King of Kings 1999 Block B | 12/22/1999 | 1 | 2:18 | |
| Win | Dennis Reed | KO (Flying Knee) | AAC 2: Amsterdam Absolute Championship 2 | 11/27/1999 | 1 | 1:43 | |
| Win | Fabio Piamonte | TKO (Strikes) | WVC 9: World Vale Tudo Championship 9 | 9/27/1999 | 1 | 2:28 | |
| Loss | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (Injury) | Rings: Rise 5th | 8/19/1999 | 1 | 8:17 | |
| Win | Semmy Schilt | KO (Punches) | Rings Holland: The King of the Magic Ring | 6/20/1999 | 2 | 4:45 | |
| Win | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (Doctor Stoppage from a Cut) | Rings: Rise 2nd | 4/23/1999 | 1 | 14:58 | |
| Win | Todd Medina | KO (Knee) | WVC: World Vale Tudo Championship | 3/20/1999 | 1 | 0:10 | |
| Win | Big Mo T | TKO (Flying Knee) | Rings Holland: Judgement Day | 2/07/1999 | 1 | 1:59 | |
| Win | Lee Hasdell | TKO (Cut) | Rings Holland: The Thialf Explosion | 10/24/1998 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Valentijn Overeem | TKO (Shoulder Injury) | Rings Holland: Who's the Boss | 6/07/1998 | 1 | 0:38 | |
| Loss | Karimula Barkalaev | DQ (Biting) | IAFC: Pankration European Championship 1998 | 5/23/1998 | 1 | 4:49 | |
| Loss | Bob Schrijber | KO (Punches and Kick) | IMA: KO Power Tournament | 4/12/1998 | 1 | 4:15 | |
| Win | Algirdas Darulis | TKO (3 Knockdowns) | IMA: KO Power Tournament | 4/12/1998 | 1 | 3:02 | |
| Win | Bob Schrijber | Submission (Achilles Lock) | Rings Holland: The King of Rings | 2/08/1998 | 2 | 1:12 | |
| Win | Bas Jussen | KO | RDFF 2: Red Devil Free Fight 2 | 12/07/1997 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Oleg Tsygolnik | KO (Punch) | M-1 MFC: World Championship 1997 | 11/01/1997 | 1 | 1:41 | |
| Win | Sergei Tunic | KO (Punches) | M-1 MFC: World Championship 1997 | 11/01/1997 | 1 | 1:16 | |
| Win | Pedro Palm | TKO | Gym Alkmaar: Fight Gala | 10/05/1997 | N/A | N/A | |
| Win | Vyacheslav Kiselev | TKO (Knees) | RDFF 1: Red Devil Free Fight 1 | 9/27/1997 | 1 | 0:51 | |
| Win | Leon Dijk | KO (Knee) | Rings Holland: Utrecht at War | 6/29/1997 | 1 | 2:05 | |
| Win | Rob van Leeuwen | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | Rings Holland: The Final Challenge | 2/02/1997 | 1 | 4:06 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Lack of Sportsmanship
Yvel is infamous for his temper and lack of restraint and sportsmanship. For example, in November 2004 during a fight with Atte Backman, he refused to re-assume a previous disadvantageous position (that was interrupted due to a brief non-knockdown stoppage by the ref) after repeated instructions from the official. He then punched the referee, knocking him down, and subsequently kicked him as he lay prone on the mat. Consequently, Yvel was disqualified from the match.
Prior to that incident, Yvel had been disqualified twice before; once against Karimula Barkalaev in May 1998 for biting, and again in September 2001, at PRIDE 16, in a bout with Don Frye. Several times during this match Yvel repeatedly raked his fingers across Frye's face and pushed his thumb into Frye's eyes to avoid being wrestled to the mat. Yvel also exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct toward referee Yuji Shimada, going so far as to assault him physically by pushing his head back with both hands after receiving his first yellow card, and refusing to restart the fight from ground. The official reason for this disqualification was continued holding of the ropes after repeated warnings.
These incidents have left Yvel with a reputation as a dirty and dishonorable fighter, which some feel has been reinforced by an incident where he left the ring after a match in PRIDE holding his penalized card above his head with a smile.
Due to his aforementioned assault of a referee, as well as losses by disqualification in previous matches, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) rejected Yvel's application for a fighter's license. As a result, he was pulled from a scheduled fight with Sergei Kharitonov at PRIDE 33 in Las Vegas.
Affliction
Yvel signed a three-fight deal with Affliction Entertainment, starting with a fight against Josh Barnett at the promotion's January 24, 2009 Affliction: Day of Reckoning event in Anaheim, California. Much controversy surrounded a hearing by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) as to whether to permit Yvel to fight at this event. Yvel was cleared to fight after he met privately with CSAC Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas and Chief Athletic Inspector Dean Lohuis three days prior to his scheduled fight with Josh Barnett, where it was determined that he was licensed to compete. The subsequent bout saw Yvel unable to generate much offense against Barnett, weathering two rounds of grueling ground and pound before submitting to strikes in the third, though he did have some impressive, solid punches from his back, while fully mounted.
Yvel next would fight on the FFI: Ultimate Chaos event in Biloxi, Mississipi against Pedro Rizzo. When Tim Sylvia was KO'd by Ray Mercer in 9 seconds at an Adrenaline MMA event in mid June, he was taken off of the Affliction: Trilogy card, where he was expected to fight Paul Buentello. Tom Atencio said that Buentello, instead of fighting Sylvia, would fight the winner of Rizzo vs. Yvel. "The Hurricane" KO'd Rizzo in the first round, winning his 31st knock out victory, and earning a place on the Affliction card. The event was eventually cancelled when Josh Barnett, who was expected to fight WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, tested positive for anabolic steroids, and according to Tom Atencio, they just "didn't have enough time to promote a new fight to our standards.”
There were rumors that Yvel was to be picked up by the UFC, though nothing materialized. After having a face-to-face meeting with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, he was given a one-fight license to compete in Nevada, giving more speculation as to him coming to the UFC.
- “It’s a relief,” he said. “I’m happy that they gave me a chance and I got treated like all the fighters.”
UFC Career
In early December 2009 it was learned by Tatame.com, a Brazilian mixed martial arts website, that Yvel was to replace Gabriel Gonzaga against Junior Dos Santos on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva. Dos Santos, who is trained by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, was on a four-fight win streak, three of those coming in the UFC, including victories over Fabricio Werdum and Mirko Filipovic. The two were content to keep the fight standing, but it was dos Santos who continued to keep beating Yvel to the punch, landing more shots. A left hook knocked Yvel to the canvas, dos Santos followed his opponent to the mat, unleashing a barrage of punches and forcing the fight to be stopped via TKO (Punches) at 2:07 of the first round.
It rumored late-January 2010 that Yvel would return to action to face off against another former K-1 fighter, Pat Barry, in a Heavyweight striker showdown, but instead Barry was scheduled to face Mirko Filipovic. Yvel was scheduled for the same card though, except his opponent would be Ben Rothwell. The bout took place at UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin on June 12, 2010. Though the two fighters were known for their striking, the bout became a sloppy grappling affair. The two continued a scramble on the floor for three frames, and each did land a handful of heavy shots on the feet. Still, the bout never looked close to ending, and Yvel never looked close to reversing the momentum. In the end, Rothwell was awarded the Decision (Unanimous) with scores of 30-27, 30-28 and 29-28.
