Bas Rutten
Bas Rutten | |
---|---|
![]() Rutten in 2009 | |
Born | Sebastiaan Rutten 24 February 1965 Tilburg,Netherlands |
Other names | El Guapo( "The Handsome One" ) |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
Division | |
Fighting out of | Los Angeles, California,US |
Trainer |
|
Rank |
|
Years active | 1993–1999, 2006 |
Kickboxingrecord | |
Total | 16 |
Wins | 14 |
By knockout | 14 |
Losses | 2 |
Mixed martial artsrecord | |
Total | 33 |
Wins | 28 |
By knockout | 11 |
By submission | 14 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 4 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 1 |
Draws | 1 |
Other information | |
Spouse |
Karin Rutten (m.2003) |
Children | 3 |
Website | basrutten |
Mixed martial arts recordfromSherdog | |
Last updated on: 21 March 2011 |
Sebastiaan"Bas"Rutten(Dutch pronunciation:[ˈbɑsˈrʏtə(n)];born 24 February 1965) is a Dutch-American actor, formermixed martial artist,kickboxerandprofessional wrestler.As a kickboxer, he fought 16 times, winning the first 14 matches by knockout, 13 in the first round, and losing his final two fights, one of them againstFrank Lobmanfor the European Muay Thai title in 1991, with Rutten losing by knockout in the first round. In MMA, he was aUFC Heavyweight Championand a three-timeKing of Pancraseworld champion. After his loss toKen Shamrockin 1995, he finished his MMA career on a 22 fight unbeaten streak (21 wins, 1 draw).
As a professional fighter, one of his favorite tactics was theliver shot(both punch and kick), and he popularized its use in MMA.[1][2]Since his retirement, he has worked as acolor commentatorin several MMA organizations, includingPride,and has appeared in numerous television shows, movies, and video games. From 2007 to 2016, he was the co-host ofInside MMAonAXS TV.Rutten also coaches MMA and has authored several instructional materials. In 2008, Rutten was ranked byInside MMAas the fourth-greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all time.[3]In 2015, he was inducted in theUFC Hall of Fame.Rutten became anaturalizedAmerican citizen in the late 1990s.
Early life
[edit]Rutten was born inTilburg,Netherlands. At the age of six, he developedeczemaand severeasthma.His eczema meant he always wore long sleeves, turtle necks and gloves, as well as bandages every night, and his asthma meant he was unable to partake in exercise, and was consequently relatively skinny. He wasbulliedon a daily basis as a child, although he hid it from his parents in order to spare them more worrying.[4][5]He learned to climb trees and jump between treetops to evade his bullies, who eventually stopped chasing him when one of them fell and almost died trying to follow him.[4]
Bas started training in boxing in the backyard of an elementary school with a friend. Rutten became interested in martial arts at age 12 after his family went on vacation to France, where the movieEnter the DragonstarringBruce Leewas playing at a local movie theatre. Bas could not get in because the movie was rated 17+, so he and his brother Sjoerd snuck into the theatre. After he saw the movie, he took an interest in martial arts.[6]Rutten even built a makeshiftnunchakuto emulate Lee.[4]
At first, his conservative parents did not allow him to pursue his interest but at age 14, after two years of begging, they allowed him to practicetaekwondo.He picked it up very quickly, even defeating adults in sparring, and after a few months he got in a street fight with his worst bully, whom Rutten knocked out with the first punch he threw, breaking his nose. The police came to his parents' house and Rutten was immediately prohibited by his parents from further practicing martial arts. Even then, Rutten made a list with all of his bullies and beat them up one by one.[4]
At age 21, he moved out of his parents' house, going to work as achefas he went to culinary school for four years.[7]He also started training taekwondo once again. He was committed, eventually earning a 2nd degreeblack belt.He then began learningKyokushinkarate and earned a 2nd-degree black belt.[8]
Kickboxing career
[edit]Bas Rutten started competing inkickboxingat the age of 20 while working also as abouncerandmodel.He fought 16 times, winning the first 14 matches by knockout, 13 in the first round, and losing his final two fights.[6]One of them would be againstFrank Lobmanfor the European Muay Thai title on 12 February 1991, with Rutten losing by KO in the first round.[9]According to Rutten, he signed up for the match while under the influence and without any kind of earlier preparation, but he decided not to pull out.[10]He decided to end soon his kickboxing career after being criticized for this single match.[4]His second to last fight was againstRene Rooze,who bit Rutten's ear during the match. In response, Bas landed a knee to the groin, which interrupted the bout and caused a brawl.[11]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Rutten began his professionalmixed martial artscareer when he was working as an entertainer. He was scouted byChris Dolmanand invited to train at theFighting Network RINGSHolland dojo. Though his first training was a difficult start for him, he focused on learning the rudiments of the art.[11]In 1993, when Japanese pro wrestlersMasakatsu FunakiandMinoru Suzukitraveled to the Netherlands to scout fighters for their new "hybrid wrestling" organization,Pancrase,Rutten was immediately chosen after they saw him knocking out the RINGS champion in sparring.[4][11]A precursor to modern mixed martial arts, the organization was the first of its kind and featured fighting with no closed fisted strikes to the face, and boasted early MMA namesFrank Shamrock,Vernon White,Maurice Smith,Ken Shamrock,andGuy Mezger.
Pancrase
[edit]1993
[edit]In September 1993, Rutten had his debut in Pancrase against the 45lb heavierRyushi Yanagisawa,knocking him out with palms and knee strikes in only 48 seconds. The KO was so brutal that Yanagisawa was carried from the ring and spent two days in hospital, with Bas himself fearing for his life.[4][11]Rutten's second match, however, would be against a more experienced opponent, Takaku Fuke, and it would expose his main weakness, his lack ofgroundfightingexperience. Fuke took Rutten down and locked anarmbar,which forced the Dutch fighter to spend a rope escape, though Bas was eventually able to land a knee strike to the liver to finish the match with a win.
1994
[edit]His third match would be his first loss in Pancrase, as he faced a superior opponent in the form of Pancrase founder Masakatsu Funaki. Rutten was taken down and forced to close guard, a moment in which he accidentally hit Funaki with a closed-fisted punch. When he tried to apologize, the Japanese fighter capitalized and executed atoehold,making Rutten tap out. At that point of his career, Rutten realized the importance of the grappling aspect, and he started taping Pancrase trainings in order to practice those moves with his trainee Leon Van Dijk.[10]
The training paid off, as Rutten submitted Japanese wrestlerKazuo "Yoshiki" Takahashiwith an inverted heel hook during a grappling exchange that had been overconfidently initiated by Kazuo. The hold itself, which Rutten had learned the previous day by watching it in a promo, completely broke Takahashi's shin bone and earned Rutten an honorary 5th-degree black belt in Kyokushin Budokai byJon Blumingafter he witnessed it.[4]Rutten then got his first high-level win against the other co-founder of Pancrase, the previously undefeatedMinoru Suzuki.The Dutch fighter knocked him down with a body kick, resisted successfully all his submissions attempts on the ground and then hit a knee to the liver on a downed Suzuki, finishing him off. Rutten later said that this win was one of the happiest moments of his life.
Just 20 days later, Rutten faced another steep test, fighting futureUFC Hall of FamerKen Shamrock,who was then one of the bestPancrasefighters. This time the Dutch had Masakatsu Funaki himself in his corner, as he had got the Japanese to formally teach himshoot wrestling.Rutten turned in a hard effort, being taken down by Shamrock and held under dominant position for most of the match. The more experienced Shamrock made Rutten spend rope escapes by submitting him with a pair of heel hooks and arear naked choke,and although Rutten still tried on, he was ultimately choked out. After this, Rutten decided to omit strikes from his training and focus only on grappling, and he bounced back from the loss with a submission win overBrazilian jiu-jitsublack beltJason DeLucia,trading submission attempts with him before ending the match with aguillotine choke.
In December 1994, Rutten then participated in one of the greatest events in mixed martial arts history to the point, theKing of Pancrase tournament.The winner of this tournament would be crowned the first champion ofPancrase.Rutten was one of the four #1 seeds in the tournament, and his first fight was against MMA newcomer and future UFC championFrank Shamrock.The fight was a controversial one, as Rutten locked an earlier rear naked choke under the ropes, only to have the referee to break it up without deducting a lost point from Frank. After that point, the two nullified each other until the end of the match, which saw an upset decision win for Shamrock. Frank also left the match with a broken nose by a high kick.[12]
1995
[edit]Rutten found a measure of redemption after the upset loss by choking out expert grappler and King of Pancrase tournament finalistManabu Yamadain his next fight, on 26 January 1995. Rutten was taken to the ground, but he clamped anarm triangle chokefromhalf guardand exerted such a pressure that Yamada, refusing to tap out, was choked out and remained unconscious with his eyes wide open after the hold. Thanks to this performance against the tournament finalist, Rutten received a rematch and a title shot against tournament winner and then-current King of Pancrase Ken Shamrock for the King of Pancrase title on 10 March. The match was very anticipated, but it ended early when Shamrock executed akneebarand forced Rutten to submit. According to the Dutch, the loss was due to his training partner Funaki teaching him the wrong way to escape a kneebar, which made Rutten spin in the opposite direction, giving Shamrock a tighter hold.[13]Rutten believes Funaki might have done it in purpose in order for him to lose.[4]
After this failure, Rutten focused on grappling even harder and started training 2 to 3 times a day solely on submissions.[11]Rutten's new training paid off, and he stole a win from Takaku Fuke with an armbar from theguardand a finishing heel hook. He then faced another dangerous striker, American kickboxing championMaurice Smith,who in turn fell down to the mat to avoid Bas's striking. Rutten grappled with him and showed his technical brilliance, firstly submitting Smith with a heel hook performed with his own chin and later executing afigure-fourtoeholdfor the win. After dispatching next Jason DeLucia by submission as well, Rutten got a rematch withFrank Shamrockon 23 July. Their fight was similar to the first bout, with both men trading positions and holds, and again the referee controversially broke up two kneebars which were performed by Rutten next to the ropes, but this time Rutten would win the split decision.
The win granted him a challenge title match in September 1995 against the King of PancraseMinoru Suzuki,which was their rematch from the fight at the beginning of their careers. The match was long and intense, as Suzuki rode Rutten for most of their exchanges in the bout, and actually managed to force him to spend a rope escape with a tight kneebar. Rutten held his own through his defensive acumen, occasionally countering with guillotine chokes and a surprising rolling kneebar from standing, until the match came to its last minutes. After getting from under amount,Rutten threw a front kick to the body which downed Suzuki and followed with a guillotine choke, making the King of Pancrase tap out.
After putting his title defenses on hold due to an injury, Rutten returned to the ring in a rematch against Maurice Smith. Overwhelmed by Rutten's strikes, Smith opted for taking him down every time possible, but Rutten ended up performing ahalf guardsweepinto arear naked chokefor the tap out. His next time would be against the man he debuted against in Pancrase,Ryushi Yanagisawa,and this time the match lasted 27:35. Despite breaking his hand during the match, Rutten scored three consecutive submissions through the affair before ending it with another rear naked choke.
1996
[edit]In March 1996, Rutten facedLion's Denfighter and futureUltimate Fighting ChampionshipwinnerGuy Mezger.Through the fight, Rutten dominated the stand-up with liver shots and palm strikes, forcing Mezger to take him down and meet him on the ground. There Mezger was able to control Rutten, but was unable to score a submission, while the Dutch defended and capitalized on the stand-up segments to inflict damage. At the end, after a leglock exchange, Rutten locked a heel hook variation to submit Mezger.
On 16 May 1996 Rutten defended his title beforeFrank Shamrockin their third match, which was also for Shamrock's interim King of Pancrase title. Controlling the takedowns as usual, Shamrock gainednorth-south positionseveral times, but was unable to submit Rutten, and Rutten in turn knocked him down with an open-handeduppercut.The two fighters struggled, and even fell off the ring in a failed takedown. In midst of the fight, Frank famously taunted Rutten by sticking out his tongue at him during a leglock exchange, which moved Bas to hit him in the face with a close-fisted punch, losing a point by red card as Shamrock expected.[12]At the end, however, Rutten won the fight by TKO due to an eye cut, unifying the King of Pancrase belts.
Right after his match against Shamrock, Rutten had his rubber match against Jason DeLucia. The fight was controversial for DeLucia repeatedly claiming Rutten had hit him with a closed fist, which cost the Dutch fighter a yellow card and later a red card. In response, Rutten hit several shots to DeLucia's liver, rupturing it and knocking him out painfully.
At Pancrase 1996 Anniversary Show, taking place on 7 September, Rutten defended his undisputed title againstMasakatsu Funakiin what is considered to be one of the greatest fights in Pancrase history. The Japanese wrestler came near finishing the match earlier with an ankle lock, but Rutten escaped miraculously and proceeded to fend Funaki off for the rest of the bout, utilizing the same stalling strategy he had used against Suzuki. Funaki made a wide usage of theknee-on-stomachand mount position to initiate leglock attacks, but the Dutch countered every time and eventually pushed Masakatsu away, a moment in which the Japanese threw an illegal kick to Rutten while he was getting up. In response, the Dutch fighter knocked Funaki down with a palm strike, and then completely broke his nose with a second palm strike to a supine Masakatsu. The stunned Japanese tried to trade hits with Rutten, only for Bas to capitalize on this with his famed striking game. Rutten knocked him down twice with palms and knees, and he followed landing a lengthy, unanswered string of strikes until a knee to the face finally downed Funaki for the KO victory. In doing so, he became a three-time King of Pancrase.
Rutten described the war with Funaki in an interview:
Before the fight when he came to me, he made that thumb over the neck, throat slashing motion like I was going to go down. I turned to my manager and said, "Okay, now I'm going to kill this guy, you watch". My game plan was to keep the fight going for 15 minutes... Funaki had never fought above 15 minutes. But then, like 12 minutes into it, while I'm still on my knees he kicks me in the head. I block, but for me that was an illegal thing to do. So right away I start, BANG, BANG, BANG, and he goes down. From that moment on, I totally destroyed him. You got to see the fight; it was a massacre. My palms were black from hitting him so hard. He had the gods on his side or something, because he stood up every time. I hit his face back on the mat and you hear it slam into the mat. His nose is all the way to the side, broke, they have to straighten it out. I go, "Oh my God, this guy can take a shot!" I kneed him so hard in the head. He went down four times. But the last knee I gave to him was like everything I had. I grabbed him by the head and kneed him. It was really like aRockymovie. I'm standing there and I fall backwards, and I'm totally out of breath. I get up and the referee holds my hand up. Then he lets my hand go and I drop again, BOOM! I was exhausted, I gave everything I had; I really wanted to destroy him. I broke his cheekbones and broke his nose, just because he said he was going to kill me. Oh, I was so angry at him. But afterwards, friends again... What a crazy sport this is, huh?[14]
His next fight was an anticipated rematch withManabu Yamada,which lasted only 0:54 before Rutten made him to tap out to a leg-entangled toehold. Following the match, he relinquished his title to be present for the birth of his second daughter.[6]
1997
[edit]On 22 March 1997 Rutten returned to Pancrase in a match against Osami Shibuya, a bout in which he was unexpectedly forced to fight for the draw after his ownsternumbroke through the struggle. The Dutchman avenged the accident in a rematch with Shibuya, in which he submitted the Japanese with aspinal lockfromura-gatameposition he nicknamed "Bas Rutten Neck Crank."
Rutten returned to Pancrase, taking 8 more victories, bringing his unbeaten streak up to 19 straight fights.
Rutten left Pancrase as one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the organization. MMA legend Ken Shamrock was the only fighter Rutten did not avenge a loss to. In 2000, when Rutten was PRIDE FC's color commentator, a third fight with Shamrock was entertained. Rutten agreed to come out of retirement to fight Shamrock in PRIDE FC. However, Shamrock stated that he already beat Rutten twice and that a third time wasn't necessary. Later, in 2002, Rutten said that he would not fight Shamrock again even if it was offered to him because of the friendship they developed over the years, and that he could not put his mind and heart into fighting Ken.[15]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]UFC Heavyweight Champion
[edit]Rutten was originally told aboutUltimate Fighting Championship(UFC) before its first event in 1993, when would-be UFC competitor Ken Shamrock proposed it to him, but Rutten decided to stay in Pancrase, as he felt the "no rules"format was too dangerous and he did not want to risk his career so early.[16]However, he signed with the UFC in 1998, after his Pancrase career. Rutten entered the UFC with a massive amount of hype; he was undefeated in his last 19 fights and was touted by the organization as the "world's greatest martial artist."[17]
Rutten was originally scheduled to fight heavyweight championRandy Couturein a title match for theUFC Heavyweight Championshipin his first fight, but Couture had a contract dispute and left the UFC to sign with a different promotion. The title was then stripped from Couture and a tournament of sorts was set up to determine the next champion. Thus, the Dutchman's first fight in his quest for the UFC belt was againstFighting Network RINGSexponentTsuyoshi KosakaatUFC 18.During the bout, Rutten was repeatedly taken down and struck withground and pound,but he ended up scoring a dramatic KO with just a minute left in overtime.[17]The fight was a source of controversy because refereeJohn McCarthyseemed to unfairly stand the fight up when Kosaka was mounted on Rutten and actively landing clean effective punches.[17]
On 7 May 1999, atUFC 20,Rutten facedKevin Randlemanfor the UFC Heavyweight Championship. The first four minutes consisted of Rutten taking unanswered punishment from his guard, getting blood on his face, but after the fight was stood up to check Rutten's cut, Rutten landed a hard kick to Randleman's liver, slowing his pace for the rest of the fight. They then exchanged strikes in Bas's guard, with the Dutch fighter opening a cut in Randleman via elbow strikes on top of his head, until the end of the overtime. The fight went to the judges, and they gave the split decision win to Rutten, crowning him as UFC Heavyweight Champion.[18]This victory met a heated controversy from fans and professionals of the sport alike, among them Randleman's corner andMark Coleman,who criticized the judges' decision.[18]Fight judging at that point was not based on the current10-point must system,but on whom the judges felt won the fight overall.
Rutten vacated the title later in the year, in order to drop down tomiddleweight(now known aslight heavyweight) a weight closer to his natural weight, in a bid to try to become the first person to hold a UFC title in two weight classes.[6]However, he would end up never continuing his career, as while training for his next UFC fight in 1999 he suffered multiple serious injuries, including blowing out his knee (a long-running injury), tearing his biceps, and suffering a neck injury. He was forced to retire from MMA competition for the time being, by doctor's orders.[6]
He was proposed a fight againstKazushi Sakurabawhen he was contacted byPride Fighting Championships,but Rutten declined due to an insufficient fight purse, preferring to sign up as a fight commentator. He was replaced byWanderlei Silvain the card.[19]
UFC Hall of Fame
[edit]On 22 May 2015 UFC PresidentDana Whiteappeared onInside MMAto announce that Rutten would be inducted into theUFC Hall of Fameduring International Fight Week in July. Rutten is the first European to be inducted, taking his place in the "Pioneers" wing of the UFC's new-look Hall of Fame.[20][21]
Former UFC Light Heavyweight ChampionTito Ortizhas credited Rutten for inspiration during his early days. Ortiz said; "I looked up to Bas Rutten. Bas was my idol. People were just so scared of fighting him, he was like the man. I thought that was what I need to do now. If I train as hard as he does then one day I'll be as good as him and two years later look where I am, I'm on top of the world. I've got to say thanks to him, (Bas) for helping me out by making me believe in dreams."[22]
Last fight
[edit]In May 2006, Rutten announced his return to MMA competition. Cleared by doctors to fight again, Rutten was slated to faceKimo Leopoldoin the now-defunctWorld Fighting Allianceon 22 July 2006, at The Forum in Los Angeles. Two days before the event, Kimo tested positive forStanozolol,ananabolicsteroid.In place of Kimo, Rutten fought Ruben "Warpath" Villareal. Rutten took a first-round victory by way of technical knockout after low kicks left his opponent unable to stand. With that he brought up his professional record to 28 wins 4 losses and 1 draw. After the fight, Rutten tested positive forhydrocodone,morphine,anddiphenhydramine.[23]
Professional wrestling career
[edit]Rutten competed inJapanese professional wrestlingfollowing his Pancrase tenure. He made his debut at the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2000 event, where he teamed up with Alexander Otsuka to defeat the team ofNaoki SanoandRicco Rodríguez,with Rutten personally submitting Sano with acrossface chickenwing.[24]He also wrestled inBattlarts,defeatingCarl Malenkoby KO via palm strike.
In 2002, Rutten debuted inNew Japan Pro-Wrestlingas a part ofAntonio Inoki's MMA army. Before his first match, he was featured invignetteslearning theshining wizardfrom watchingKeiji Mutohtapes in order to adapt to NJPW professional wrestling.[25]He mostly wrestled in singles matches, beating both rookies and veterans likeManabu Nakanishi,Hiroshi TanahashiandMasayuki Naruse.In July, he challenged for theIWGP Heavyweight ChampionshipagainstYuji Nagata,but he was defeated. After three months, in October, he was featured in a special EuropeanCatch WrestlingRules Match againstOsamu NishimurawithTony St. Clairas a special referee. The match went to a time limit draw after ten rounds, despite Nishimura's illegal blows. The same month, Rutten dropped down to thejunior heavyweight divisionand received another title match, this time againstKoji Kanemotofor theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship,but he was unsuccessful.
Post-fight career
[edit]After his retirement from fighting in 1999, Rutten focused on becoming an actor, getting small parts on TV shows such asMartial Law,18 Wheels of Justice,The King of Queens,"Lights Out" and the Canadian seriesFreedom,as well as appearing in low budget movies such asShadow Fury,The Eliminator,and the comedy shortThe Kingdom of Ultimate Powerwhich was featured in the 2005L.A. Film Festival.It also won the first prize at the short film festival in NY for "best comedy".[citation needed]
Rutten was also the color commentator for the English productions ofPride Fighting Championshipsevents, calling nearly every event fromPride 1through the 2005 Grand Prix. Known for his sense of humor and first-hand knowledge of the sport, Rutten quickly became a fan favorite commentator. In April 2006 he announced that he would not continue to announce for Pride, due to the constant flying to Japan, and being away from his family every month.[26]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Bas_Rutten_2011.jpg)
Rutten has a cameo in the video gameGrand Theft Auto IVon the in-game TV show called "The Men's Room."[27]He also did motion capture for the main character's fighting moves. He said that when he arrived at the motion-capture place in New York he asked the people in charge how violent they wanted to have it and they told him to "give it all he got". After two hours they stopped him and said, "It's OK, you don't have to go any further".[28]
He was also featured inWCW vs. the Worldfor the PlayStation, but was named "Thunder Dome" to avoid copyright laws.[citation needed]
On 23 January 2008, he was announced as the new Vice President, Fighter Operations reporting directly to IFL CEO Jay Larkin. His role was to build relations between the IFL and its fighters as well as work on potential match-ups between fighters. He also hosted the weekly shows "Battleground" and "International Fight League" withKenny Rice.This all ended when IFL went out of business in late 2008.[citation needed]
In 2009, he appeared in the music video forListen to Your Friendsby the rock band New Found Glory, "fighting" lead vocalistJordan Pundik. Bas and Rice hostedInside MMA,a weekly MMA variety show onAXS TV.The pair also did remote English commentary and play-by-play forDreamevents broadcast in North America on HDNet. The pair were eventually replaced byGuy MezgerandMichael Schiavello,who attend the events live in Japan. He is currently appearing in public health service ads, airing onCartoon Network.He also made apublic service announcementagainst trying out MMA at home butCagePotatoridiculed it for its mixed messages.[29]
Rutten was featured in the 2012 American sports comedy movieHere Comes the BoomalongsideKevin JamesandHenry Winkler.Rutten played the role of a former MMA fighter and Dutch immigrant Niko trying to gain US citizenship. In return for his help in gaining citizenship, Niko helps train 42-year-old biology teacher Scott (Kevin James) to become a MMA fighter in the UFC. The film also features former UFC fighterKrzysztof Soszynski,former Muay Thai kickboxerMark DellaGrottealong with cameo roles forBruce Buffer,Chael Sonnen,Jason Miller,Satoshi Ishii,Mark Muñoz,Herb Dean,Wanderlei Silva,andJoe Roganamongst others.[citation needed]
On 23 October 2013, theWorld Series of Fightingannounced Rutten as a member of the broadcast team for WSOF events onNBCSNalong with Todd Harris.[30]
Rutten currently works as a commentator forKarate Combat.[citation needed]
Coaching
[edit]Rutten is certified as an instructor of both MTBN Thai Boxing and mixed martial arts, as well askrav maga.[11]
Rutten coachedMark Kerrduring the filming of theHBOdocumentaryThe Smashing Machine.[citation needed]
In 2006, Rutten was a team coach for theInternational Fight League,an MMA organization that focused on team combat. His team, theAnacondas,defeated theSilverbacks3–2. He is also a former investor in the Legends MMA gym in Hollywood and used to teach there occasionally,[31]and is now a part owner of the MMA gym Bas Rutten's Elite Mixed Martial Arts in Thousand Oaks, California. He teaches a MMA class on Tuesdays.[32]
He has also trained former street fighterKimbo Slicefor his professional MMA bouts, as well as professional wrestlerSamoa Joe.[citation needed]
Fighting style
[edit]Rutten's main reason for success in Pancrase was his well-rounded fighting style, excelling both in striking and grappling. His stand-up offensive, learned from the Dutch school ofMuay Thai,KarateandTaekwondowas aggressive yet deceptively technical.[33]According toFrank Shamrock,it often intimidated other fighters. He would say, "His kickboxing was devastating. It was something everybody feared. The other thing he had was a basic understanding of real fighting... Bas had that street fighter mentality."[34]
One of his favored tactics in the ring was unbalancing his opponents withpush kicksagainst the ring ropes before overwhelming them with palm strikes and body punches, nullifying their ability to counterattack or defend.[33]Rutten never developed an effective takedown defense, but he was apt at landing strikes while being taken down, having knocked out opponents before they could complete the technique.[33]The most famous aspect of his striking, however, was his skill to target the opponent'sliver,using punches, knees and kicks todamage itand incapacitate his adversary.[33]
He stated his striking was influenced by his career as a bouncer, when he would often have to fight multiple opponents in the street. He would strike with his palms and forearms rather than closed fists in order to protect his hands from impact against the opponent's skull, which later helped him in the Pancrase ruleset.[4]
Rutten's groundwork was built through a slow evolution and was unusual for being mostly self-taught.[35]Initially counting only on defense rudiments learned from Chris Dolman, he developed his game by copying Pancrase trainings and became a dangerous submission fighter. His grappling style was patterned after Pancrase's nativeshoot wrestling(better known as "Catch wrestling"in the west), and he focused onchokeholds,leglocks,and a solid submission defense, which helped him to avoid being forced to submit by even high-level offensive grapplers likeMasakatsu FunakiandMinoru Suzuki.[35]
Personal life
[edit]Rutten currently lives inAustin, Texas,with his wife Karin and two daughters – Sabine and Bianca. Rutten also has a daughter from his first wife; her name is Rachele.[36]He became a citizen of the United States[37]twenty years ago.[38]At the end of 2015, he became a grandfather for the first time: a grandson from Rachele, who currently lives in Belgium.[citation needed]
Rutten is friends with fellow Dutchman and former UFC competitorGerard Gordeau.[16]
Rutten is known by the moniker "El Guapo",which means" The Handsome One "inSpanish.[citation needed]
He became known for the victory celebration known as "Rutten Jump", in which he would do a jumping split after winning a fight.[6]Rutten talked about the origins of the Rutten Jump on his website: "When I won my first fight in Pancrase, I was so hyped that I jumped up in the splits to each side of the ring. Why? I don't know. But, it became my trademark and I had to do it after every fight that I won."[39]
In 2010, Rutten partnered with clothing brand, Tokyo Five,[40]to produce and star in a cooking show titledGrandma's Kitchen with Bas Rutten.The show's pilot was scheduled to air 26 February 2010; however, due to a physical altercation between Rutten and co-hosts, production has been delayed indefinitely.[41]
In 2018, he was inducted into theInternational Sports Hall of Fame.[42]
Religion
[edit]Rutten is a practicingCatholic,talking about his faith in God onYouTube.Raised in a Catholic family, Rutten stopped practicing the faith at around 12 years old when his parents stopped attending church, but he returned to the faith in 2013.[43]He has credited his friendKevin James,and others, with helping him in his journey back to Catholicism.[44]Rutten has spoken out againstanti-Catholicdiscrimination inHollywood.[citation needed]
Tattoos
[edit]Rutten has several tattoos, each of which is intended to help him spiritually and emotionally.[45]
Street fights
[edit]Bas Rutten is known for his brawls and bar fights around the world. In particular, he once threwPaul Varelansthrough a glass window in Russia via kimura lock when Varelans tried to bite his back, and immediately after he disarmed and assaulted an armed bouncer.[11]He also participated in a brawl that took place at a bar in Sweden in which he fought several bouncers at the same time.[46]This fight is particularly notorious as it landed Rutten in a Swedish jail.[46]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Mixed martial arts
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Heavyweight Championship(One time)
- UFC Hall of Fame(Pioneer wing, 2015 inductee)[47]
- First Dutch champion in UFC history
- Undefeated in the UFC (2–0)
- Pancrase
- King of Pancrase Openweight Championship(One time)
- Two successful title defenses
- Unified the King of Pancrase Openweight Championship
- King of Pancrase Openweight Championship(One time)
- Sherdog
- Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Fame (2014 inductee)[48]
- Fight Matrix
- 1996 Fighter of the Year[49]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]33 matches | 28 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 11 | 0 |
By submission | 14 | 3 |
By decision | 3 | 1 |
Draws | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 28–4–1 | Ruben Villareal | TKO (leg kicks) | WFA: King of the Streets | 22 July 2006 | 1 | 3:24 | Los Angeles, California,United States | |
Win | 27–4–1 | Kevin Randleman | Decision (split) | UFC 20 | 7 May 1999 | 1 | 21:00 | Birmingham, Alabama,United States | Won the vacantUFC Heavyweight Championship.Later vacated title due to injury. |
Win | 26–4–1 | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | TKO (punches) | UFC 18 | 8 January 1999 | 1 | 14:15 | Kenner, Louisiana,United States | |
Win | 25–4–1 | Kengo Watanabe | TKO (palm strikes) | Pancrase: 1998 Anniversary Show | 14 September 1998 | 1 | 2:58 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Win | 24–4–1 | Keiichiro Yamamiya | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Alive 11 | 20 December 1997 | 1 | 4:58 | Yokohama, Kanagawa,Japan | |
Win | 23–4–1 | Osami Shibuya | Submission (body crunch) | Pancrase: 1997 Anniversary Show | 6 September 1997 | 1 | 3:15 | Urayasu, Chiba,Japan | |
Win | 22–4–1 | Takaku Fuke | Submission (armbar) | Pancrase: Alive 7 | 30 June 1997 | 1 | 4:28 | Hakata, Fukuoka,Japan | |
Win | 21–4–1 | Kiuma Kunioku | Decision (points) | Pancrase: Alive 4 | 27 April 1997 | 1 | 15:00 | Urayasu, Chiba,Japan | |
Draw | 20–4–1 | Osami Shibuya | Draw (majority) | Pancrase: Alive 3 | 22 March 1997 | 1 | 15:00 | Nagoya, Aichi,Japan | |
Win | 20–4 | Manabu Yamada | Submission (ankle lock) | Pancrase: Truth 7 | 8 October 1996 | 1 | 0:54 | Nagoya, Aichi,Japan | |
Win | 19–4 | Masakatsu Funaki | KO (knee) | Pancrase: 1996 Anniversary Show | 7 September 1996 | 1 | 17:05 | Urayasu, Chiba,Japan | Defended thePancrase Openweight Championship. |
Win | 18–4 | Jason DeLucia | KO (Punch[50][51]to the body) | Pancrase: Truth 6 | 25 June 1996 | 1 | 8:48 | Fukuoka, Fukuoka,Japan | |
Win | 17–4 | Frank Shamrock | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Pancrase: Truth 5 | 16 May 1996 | 1 | 11:11 | Tokyo,Japan | Defended and unified thePancrase Openweight Championship. |
Win | 16–4 | Katsuomi Inagaki | TKO (points) | Pancrase: Truth 4 | 8 April 1996 | 1 | 14:07 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Win | 15–4 | Guy Mezger | Submission (ankle lock) | Pancrase: Truth 2 | 2 March 1996 | 1 | 19:36 | Kobe, Hyogo,Japan | |
Win | 14–4 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 7 | 14 December 1995 | 1 | 27:35 | Sapporo, Hokkaido,Japan | |
Win | 13–4 | Maurice Smith | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 6 | 4 November 1995 | 1 | 4:34 | Yokohama, Kanagawa,Japan | |
Win | 12–4 | Minoru Suzuki | Submission (guillotine choke) | Pancrase: 1995 Anniversary Show | 1 September 1995 | 1 | 15:35 | Tokyo,Japan | Won thePancrase Openweight Championship. |
Win | 11–4 | Frank Shamrock | Decision (split) | Pancrase: 1995 Neo-Blood Tournament Second Round | 23 July 1995 | 1 | 15:00 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Win | 10–4 | Jason DeLucia | Submission (heel hook) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 5 | 13 June 1995 | 1 | 1:32 | Sapporo, Hokkaido,Japan | |
Win | 9–4 | Maurice Smith | Submission (kneebar) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 4 | 13 May 1995 | 1 | 2:10 | Urayasu, Chiba,Japan | |
Win | 8–4 | Takaku Fuke | Submission (heel hook) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 3 | 8 April 1995 | 1 | 1:52 | Nagoya, Aichi,Japan | |
Loss | 7–4 | Ken Shamrock | Submission (kneebar) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 2 | 10 March 1995 | 1 | 1:01 | Yokohama, Kanagawa,Japan | For thePancrase Openweight Championship. |
Win | 7–3 | Manabu Yamada | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Pancrase: Eyes of Beast 1 | 26 January 1995 | 1 | 1:05 | Nagoya, Aichi,Japan | |
Loss | 6–3 | Frank Shamrock | Decision (majority) | King of Pancrase tournament opening round | 16 December 1994 | 1 | 10:00 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Win | 6–2 | Jason DeLucia | Submission (guillotine choke) | Pancrase: Road to the Championship 5 | 15 October 1994 | 1 | 1:43 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Loss | 5–2 | Ken Shamrock | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Road to the Championship 3 | 26 July 1994 | 1 | 16:42 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Win | 5–1 | Minoru Suzuki | KO (knee to the body) | Pancrase: Road to the Championship 2 | 6 July 1994 | 1 | 3:43 | Amagasaki, Hyogo,Japan | |
Win | 4–1 | Kazuo Takahashi | TKO (knee injury) | Pancrase: Road to the Championship 1 | 31 May 1994 | 1 | 1:37 | Tokyo,Japan | |
Win | 3–1 | Vernon White | Submission (guillotine choke) | Pancrase: Pancrash! 3 | 21 April 1994 | 1 | 1:16 | Osaka, Osaka,Japan | |
Loss | 2–1 | Masakatsu Funaki | Submission (toe hold) | Pancrase: Pancrash! 1 | 19 January 1994 | 1 | 2:58 | Yokohama, Kanagawa,Japan | |
Win | 2–0 | Takaku Fuke | KO (knee to the body) | Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 2 | 14 October 1993 | 1 | 2:03 | Nagoya, Aichi,Japan | |
Win | 1–0 | Ryushi Yanagisawa | KO (palm strike) | Pancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 1 | 21 September 1993 | 1 | 0:43 | Urayasu, Chiba,Japan |
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Shadow of the Dragon | Kismet | Film |
1997 | WCW vs. the World | Thunder Dome | Video Game |
1999 | Martial Law | Roman Van Reit | TV Episode: "Nitro Man" |
2000 | Freedom | The Bad Guy | TV Episode: "Lonewolf" |
2000 | The King of Queens | Emil | TV Episode: "Party Favors" |
2001 | Shadow Fury | Adult Kismet | Film |
2002 | The Smashing Machine | Himself | Documentary |
2002 | Modern Warriors | ||
2002 | NJPW Samurai TV | TV series | |
2004 | The Eliminator | Dakota Varley | Film |
2005 | The Vault | General Matos | Film |
2005 | The King of Queens | Niles | TV Episode: "Deconstructing Carrie" |
2005 | The Kingdom of Ultimate Power | Vlad Rifka | Short |
2006 | IFL:International Fight League | Announcer | TV series |
2006 | Backlash | Grazer | Film |
2007 | Fight Science | Himself | TVDocumentary |
2007 | The Modern Warrior | ||
2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV | Himself (voice and television presenter)/Niko Bellic(motion-capture fighting double) | Video Game |
2008 | Fight Science | Himself | TV Episode: "Fighting Back" |
2009 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Drill Instructor | Film |
2009 | Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony | Himself (voice) | Video Game |
2009 | Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned | ||
2010 | EA MMA | ||
2010 | Sinners & Saints | Dekker | Film |
2011 | Lights Out | Dokaj | TV episode: "Bolo Punch" |
2011 | Zookeeper | Sebastian the Wolf (voice) | Film |
2012 | Here Comes the Boom | Niko | |
2012 | UFC Undisputed 3 | Himself (voice) | Video Game |
2012 | Punk Payback | Himself | TV Series |
2012 | Myrskyn Ratsastajat | TVDocumentary | |
2014 | Mercy Rule | Coach | Film |
2015 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | Henk | |
2015 | Liv and Maddie | Uncle Martucci | TV series (Season 3, Episode 8 "Ask Her More-A-Rooney" )[52] |
2016 | EA Sports UFC 2 | Himself (playable character) | Video Game |
2016 | The River Thief | Clyde | Film |
2017–2018 | Kevin Can Wait | Rutger/Rootger Van De Kamp | Recurring role |
2025 | The Smashing Machine | Himself | Film |
Works
[edit]- Bas Rutten's Big Book of Combat, Volumes One and Two(2002)
- Bas Rutten's Big DVDs of Combat
- Bas Rutten's Lethal Street Fighting(2003)
- Bas Rutten's MMA Workout(2001)
- Bas Rutten's Superior Free Fight Techniques
- Bas Rutten's "Extreme Pancrase" No-Holds Barred Fighting System
- Training with Bas Rutten "Never Back DownSpecial Features "2008
- TERA Online "MMO-FO.com Spokesman" 2012
References
[edit]- ^The 10 Best Signature Moves in MMA.Bas Rutten's liver shot is #1.
- ^Barry, Steve. (5 January 2009)The Origin of Bas Rutten's Love of the Liver Shot?.Mmaconvert.com. Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^Inside MMA(television).AXS TV.2008. Event occurs at 0:15.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2021.Retrieved14 January2023.
- ^abcdefghijFerriss, Tim (19 September 2022)."The Tim Ferriss Show transcripts: UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten on Fundamentals of Real Self-Defense, Savage Fight Stories, How He's Handled Bullies, Breathing Techniques for Increasing Stamina and Endurance, The Art of Personal Reinvention, and Cultivating the Practice of Prayer (#621)".The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss.Tim Blog.Retrieved18 March2023.
- ^"Karate Combat: Interview with Bas Rutten".Fighter Mag. 8 August 2022.Retrieved18 March2023.
- ^abcdefOfficial biographyArchived20 May 2007 at theWayback Machine.Basrutten.tv (30 November 2015). Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^Guga Foods.UFC Legend said my steaks SUCKS, So I said let's do it!.Event occurs at[time needed].Retrieved30 December2023.
- ^"Bas Rutten"(in Japanese). Pancrase Official Site.Retrieved20 November2010.
- ^1991 Bas Rutten vs Frank Lobman (12-02-1991).YouTube.com. Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^ab"From Bullying the Bullies to MMA Heavyweight Champion — The Bas Rutten Story".Fight Times. 27 November 2009.
- ^abcdefgNation, Mark Ginther, T. (16 January 2004)."Two Fisted T-Man".T NATION.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^abFrank Shamrock,Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter,Chicago Review Press
- ^OfficialBasRutten (21 August 2014)."Bas Rutten's Career MMA Fight #11 vs. Ken Shamrock".Archivedfrom the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^T NATION | MMA Legend Bas Rutten.Tmuscle.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-15.
- ^Boone, Matt (6 February 2003)Bas Rutten Speaks On Shamrock, Tank, UFC/PRIDE, & MoreArchived22 November 2007 at theWayback Machine
- ^abSantoliquito, Joseph (12 November 2013)."Let There Be Fight – Pioneers Emerge".Sherdog.Retrieved1 February2016.
- ^abcNewman, Scott (16 August 2006)."MMA Review: #92: UFC 18: The Road to the Heavyweight Title".The Oratory.Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2016.Retrieved31 October2016.
- ^abNewman, Scott (26 October 2006)."UFC 20: The Battle for the Gold Review".Sports Oratory.Retrieved30 October2016.
- ^Snowden, Jonathan (2010).Total Mma: Inside Ultimate Fighting.ECW Press.ISBN978-15-549033-7-5.
- ^Martin, Damon. (23 May 2015)Former heavyweight champion Bas Rutten to be inducted to UFC Hall of Fame.FOX Sports. Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^Dana White Surprises Bas Rutten w/ UFC Hall of Fame Invitation.YouTube (22 May 2015). Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^Tito Ortiz interview by Pooch: Submission Fighting UK Interviews.Web.archive.org (1 May 2001). Retrieved on 15 November 2010.
- ^"NUMEROUS MMA DRUG TEST FAILURES IN CALIFORNIA".2 April 2007.
- ^""Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye" Results ".Purolove(in German).Retrieved3 March2016.
- ^"July 2002 News Archive (Incomplete)".www.ichibanpuroresu.com.
- ^Bas Rutten exposes Gary "Jerry" MillenArchived17 July 2010 at theWayback Machine.Mmaontap.com (14 March 2007). Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^GTA4: Rutten is hilarious.Mmamania.com (29 April 2008). Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^Zeidler, Benjamin (17 June 2008)Bas in GTA4.mmamadness.com
- ^"Video Tribute: MMA's Eight Greatest Public Service Announcements".CagePotato.com. 15 August 2011.Retrieved17 February2014.
- ^"World Series of Fighting Announces Bas Rutten Todd Harris as Broadcast Team".
- ^Kalstein, Dave (May 2008)Legends Gym: Bright Lights, Big City.fightmagazine.com
- ^"Bas Ruttens Elite MMA Gym of Westlake Village CA – Welcome to the Elite".
- ^abcdSlack, Jack (6 November 2012)."UFC Macao Judo Chop: Cung Le and MMA's Best Kickers".Blood Elbow.Retrieved29 December2015.
- ^The overlooked origins of mixed martial arts: Part IIArchived3 March 2012 at theWayback Machine.KocoSports.com. Retrieved on 15 November 2010.
- ^abGrant, T.P. (17 November 2012)."MMA Origins: A New Era Dawns as Bas Rutten Reigns in Pancrase".Blood Elbow.Retrieved29 December2015.
- ^Villarreal, Adam.Who's the Bas?proelite.com
- ^Razak, Bobby.History of MMA: Bas Rutten.Bobby Razak(Interview). Event occurs at 8:08.Retrieved22 August2022.
- ^StevenCrowder (5 May 2017)."#163 Trumpcare Wins! Bill NYE Loses! Bas Rutten and Andrew Klavan – Louder With Crowder".Archivedfrom the original on 13 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^FAQ: The Home of Bas Rutten. Wednesday, 3 November 2004
- ^"Tokyo Five Brand".
- ^Bas Rutten Cooking Show Pilot Ends In Debacle.Sherdog.com (4 March 2010). Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^Dr. Robert Goldman (9 March 2018)."2018 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees".www.sportshof.org.Retrieved14 July2023.
- ^The Faith of a Fighter: An Interview with MMA Legend Bas RuttenSam Guzman, catholicgentleman.net (January 2017)
- ^UFC legend reveals actor helped him in journey back to Catholicismthecatholicuniverse.com (26 November 2018)
- ^Bas Rutten: Exclusive InterviewArchived23 January 2009 at theWayback MachineinBlack Belt Magazine
- ^ab"Bas Rutten's Crazy Swedish Bar Fight Story"(in Japanese).The Joe Rogan Experience.Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2012.Retrieved23 February2011.
- ^"Bas Rutten to Enter UFC Hall of Fame in July".ufc.com.22 May 2015.Retrieved15 December2019.
- ^Martin, Todd. (3 August 2014)Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: The Shoo-Ins – Bas Rutten.Sherdog.com. Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^MMA Awards.Fight Matrix. Retrieved on 26 January 2016.
- ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXPF2oShAMEThis is an actual recording of the fight. The TKO occurs shortly after 10:31 in which Bas delivers the injurious punch.
- ^https://events.mixedmartialarts.com/Pancrase-Truth-6:A10A815C-1A22-44BF-8426-66616206D99D[bare URL]
- ^"IMDb: Liv and Maddie" Ask Her More-A-Rooney "(Season 3, Episode 8)".imdb.com.Retrieved31 July2018.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1965 births
- Living people
- Dutch emigrants to the United States
- Dutch male kickboxers
- Dutch male mixed martial artists
- Dutch male karateka
- Dutch male professional wrestlers
- Dutch Muay Thai practitioners
- Dutch male taekwondo practitioners
- Dutch Roman Catholics
- Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Krav Maga
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai
- Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Kyokushin kaikan
- Mixed martial artists utilizing taekwondo
- Mixed martial arts broadcasters
- Pancrase champions
- Ultimate Fighting Championship champions
- Pride Fighting Championships
- Sportspeople from Tilburg
- People from Westlake Village, California
- Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters