Gerard Gordeau

Gerard Gordeau (born March 30, 1959) is a retired Dutch savateur, karateka, and mixed martial artist. He is the 1991 World Champion Savate and holder of the Dutch Champion Kyokushin Karate title for 8 consecutive years, but foremost known internationally for his fight against Teila Tuli in the first televised Ultimate Fighting Championship bout on 12 November 1993. To Japanese pro-wrestling fans he is known as "the hired body guard" for the famous 1.4 Incident which occurred on January fourth, 1999 at the Tokyo Dome, Naoya Ogawa versus Shinya Hashimoto. Gordeau was in the corner of Ogawa representing UFO (Universal Fighting Organization), Ogawa turned the bout into a shoot match brutally striking Hashimoto who had no idea what was going on.

Mixed martial arts career

Gordeau had fought in several no-holds-barred matches in his native Netherlands and Japan, including two bouts against Masaaki Satake and Mitsuya Nagai at "free fight" events held under the then professional wrestling promotion RINGS as well as a shoot style bout with Akira Maeda under the Newborn UWF.^[1]

Gordeau's Ultimate Fighting Championship match with Teila Tuli lasted only 26 seconds and was stopped after Gordeau knocked out three of Tuli's teeth with a kick. The event announcers claimed that the tooth landed underneath their table, the other two were embedded in Gordeau's foot for the remainder of the show, due to the UFC doctors not wanting Gordeau to have an open wound in his foot. Gordeau also broke his own hand on Tuli's head after the kick. Despite the injury, he fought twice more that night. After winning his second match against Kevin Rosier, Gordeau lost to Royce Gracie in the championship bout. During the bout, while Gordeau was in Gracie's guard, he allegedly bit Gracie's ear in an intentional foul.^[2] However Gracie still managed to submit Gordeau to win the fight and tournament.

Gordeau was a trainer for UFC 2 semifinalist Remco Pardoel in 1994. He became notorious as a "dirty fighter", again using illegal tactics with the intentional eye-gouge of Yuki Nakai in the 1995 Japan Vale Tudo.^[3] Nakai went on to beat Gordeau by submission, but lost sight in his right eye from the gouge.^[4]

Professional wrestling career

In 1995, he took part in New Japan Pro Wrestling's four-man Final Countdown BVD Tournament on January 4 at the Tokyo Dome during Battle 7. He lost his match to eventual winner Antonio Inoki.

Since his retirement from MMA, Gordeau has participated in various puroresu events, the last one of which was held at Pro Wrestling Zero1 Yasukuni Shrine Festival on 11 April 2010 where he teamed with Ryouji Sai.^[5]

Kamakura dojo

Gordeau, along with his brothers Al and Nico, owns the Dojo Kamakura in The Hague. He also trains the current Dutch K-1 fighter Mourad Bouzidi, along with Anil Dubar, and sometimes the Romanian champion Daniel Ghiță.

Accomplishments and titles

• 9th dan Kyokushinkai Karate (Budo Kaikan)
• 7th dan Sei Budo Kai
• 4th dan Kyokushinkai Karate (NKA)
• 2nd dan Full-Contact Karate (USA)
• Highest degree Savate (Boxe Francaise)
• 4th dan Oyama Karate
• Eight time Dutch Champion Kyokushin Karate
• Competed at the World Championships Kyokushin Karate (1979, 1983, 1987)
• Savate World Heavyweight Champion (1991)
• Three time Savate European Heavyweight Champion
• UFC 1 Tournament Runner Up (1993)

Mixed martial arts record

Kickboxing record

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	27-6	Toshiyuki Atokawa	Decision	K-1 Illusion 1993 Karate World Cup	01993-10-02October 2, 1993	N/A	N/A	Osaka, Japan
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	27-5	Adam Watt	KO (spinning back fist)	K-1 Illusion	01993-09-04September 4, 1993	2	2:07	Tokyo, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27-4	Jokovic	TKO	Savate World Championship	01991-05-25May 25, 1991	3	0:01	Paris, France	For Savate World Heavyweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26-4	Simon Bienvenu	KO	Savate World Championship	01991-04-27April 27, 1991	?	?	Toulouse, France

References

External links

• Gerard Gordeau at the Internet Movie Database
• Official website
• Professional MMA record for Gerard Gordeau from Sherdog
• Gerard Gordeau on UFC.com