Headlining Wild Bill’s Fight Night, Darrell Parodi battles for MMA, the Marine Corp and The Tots
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
Darrell Parodi (1-0) is not your typical fighter. Sure, he’s got tattoos and even a strong physique, but there’s a hidden stream of inner courage masked behind his contrasting personality of friendliness and polite demeanor.
When approached and spoken to, the young active duty Marine is collected and respectful almost to the point where thoughts of him fighting in a ring or a battlefield seem a bit out of character. Parodi casts a bright aura of gentleness. But just below any glow of calm lays a warrior at heart.
Parodi’s outward peacefulness and main street sensibility in itself is one quality that separates the young soldier from the much of the often flamboyant mixed martial arts pack. But there’s much more to Parodi. Far more than just some brutish aptitude or unflinching nerves.
As an athlete, Parodi battles within the tough blue-collar ranks of MMA around the southern United States. But as a Marine rifleman, the young MMA fighter and family man also fights for his country. Parodi may not be a household name of the UFC, but like thousands of other young Americans, he bravely faces the uncertainty of life in combat overseas during a time of war.
“I am going to Iraq the first week of January and will be deployed for twelve months,” Parodi told Full Contact Talk. “I have never been deployed to Iraq before. I joined the Marine Corp in 2003 and then I spent my first year in Okinawa. From there I was stationed in Atlanta and that’s where I started training MMA.”
Many people might assume that the uncertainty of war would provide a reasonable level of fear amongst the toughest guys in the world. Even that of a Marine or a professional fighter. But for Darrell Parodi, the reality of his upcoming mixed martial arts bout at Wild Bill’s 19 December in Duluth is an exciting and honorable prelude to the quickly approaching reality of life in a war zone.
“I am so glad I was called me to fight,” Parodi happily stated. “I wasn’t going to fight so close to my deployment because it takes a lot of time away from my wife and my family. Parodi continued, “But when I heard the fight was for “Toys For Tots,” I couldn’t pass it up. It’s too good an opportunity for me to give back and also represent the Marine Corp.”
Wild Bill’s Fight Night 17, breaks the barrier of a traditional mixed martial arts event. The night of professional and amatuer fights is being billed as “A Fight For Charity,” where admission is free as long as fans show up to the doors with a toy or drop a gift off at one of over thirty Marine Corp distribution points around the city of Atlanta.
“Toys For Tots” was founded in 1947 when Major William L. Hendricks, along with a small group of fellow Marines, distributed toys to less fortunate children in the Los Angeles area. In the sixty one years that have followed, the children’s charity has spread to all fifty States and placed millions of toys into the hands of deserving kids.
“Everybody always thanks me for what I have done in the military,” said Parodi. But now I can give back and be a headliner for ‘Toys For Tots.’ I can promote the event as a Marine.” Parodi continued, “I am fighting two fights for the Marines now.”
Darrell Parodi’s Marine Corp pride is second to none. When Parodi speaks about his beloved Corp, he delivers his words in the deepest tone of honor and enthusiasm. Freshly part of the Georgia professional fighter ranks, Parodi speaks in almost equal enthusiasm about the combat sport that he loves and the military branch in which he adores as a lifestyle. Parodi’s adoration of the United States Marine Corp is even more powerfully augmented when he accounts to the Corp’s support of his current fight career.
“The Marine Corp has backed me all the way. Everybody here loves the fact that I am a fighter,” stated Parodi. “I mean, what do Marines do? We fight. We are America’s fighting force. They tell me to do my best not to get hurt but they love it. Parodi continued, “The Marine Corp gives me the time I need to train and they support me thoroughly. It’s awesome.”
Currently training out of Evolution Mixed Martial Arts in North Carolina under Jeremy Owens, Parodi was first exposed to jiu-jitsu by a Marine named Chris Cunningham when stationed in Atlanta during 2003. Cunningham, a previous student of Renzo Gracie (13-6-1) in New York, eventually began instructing Parodi and a few other Marines in a makeshift program of their own.
“We had a mat room on base and couple of us guys wanted to get into jiu-jitsu, so Chris [Cunningham] started training us,” said Parodi. “It just kind of fell in play that was where I trained.”
Parodi is scheduled to face Kamrin Naville (2-3) in the main event at Wild Bill’s. Kamrin, a scrappy pro from Valdosta with an edge in experience doesn’t intimidate Parodi in the least. The young Marine feels confident in his ground skills but eager to force the stand-up game.
“I know Kamrin is a wrestler and I am expecting him to come out strong and aggressive but right now I am focused on my own game,” stated Parodi. “I wrestled all my whole life in school and then got involved in jiu-jitsu. But as soon as picked up Muay Thai, I fell in love with it. Parodi continued, “I try to keep the fights on the feet now. I am happy to fall back on the jiu-jitsu and wrestling but at the same time it is so exciting to stand up with my opponents and see who is strong and willing to take a hit and give one back.”
No matter the end result of Friday’s fight. Darrell Parodi is a working class hero with a big heart and a dedication to his Corp, that to the casual eye, exceeds normal expectations. He faces two wars within a matter of weeks and faces such challenges with a smile and a laugh. If anything, it is the unsolicited bravery of Parodi that makes general issue American boys of his kind an example of what citizenship can and possibly should be.
Wild Bill’s Fight Night 17 takes place December 19 at Wild Bill’s, 2075 Market St., Duluth, GA 30096. (678) 473-1000. Admission is free based on donation of a new unwrapped toy to the Marine Corp’s “Toys For Tos” charity.
