I recently got the opportunity to interview MMA pioneer and legend Bas Rutten. With a professional record of 28-4-1, Rutten won the UFC heavyweight title by defeating Kevin Randleman on May 5, 1999 at UFC 20. Now retired from fighting, he is a veteran commentator for the now defunct Pride organization, and will sit along side Don Frye on Sept. 11 as commentator for Shark Fights 13.
Kevin: Do you think there should be one sanctioning body so champions aren’t just promotional or organizational (IE UFC/Strikeforce and no unified champion)?
Bas: It would be great, but will not happen. The UFC will simply say “If you are a member, you can not fight with us”, and boom, its over, and business wise, Dana is right.
Kevin: Brett Rogers is fighting Ruben “Warpath” Villareal who was your last opponent, do you think it’s a good decision for Rogers considering he’s only lost to Fedor and Overeem?
Bas: Yes, Rogers will have no problem I think. Ruben was a last minute replacement. He has a hard head, but really need to work on his leg kick defense. Its not that Vallereal is a top 10 fighter, so like I said, Rogers should be OK.
Kevin: You’ll be commentating alongside Don Frye September 11 at Shark Fights 13, how are you feeling about this?
Bas: Gonna be CRAZY, looking forward to it a lot.
Kevin: Being a great commentator and obviously with your vast knowledge of the sport, has the UFC ever approached you to come commentate?
Bas: No they didn’t, I think the UFC is totally fine with Joe Rogan, personally I am a big fan of Rogan’s work also.
Kevin: Who right now are your favorite fighters to watch?
Bas: GSP, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Rory Mac Donald, Mark Homenick, and last but not least, Jose Aldo. I pretty much like any fighter in the WEC also.
Kevin: How do you feel about todays competitors compared to those when you were in your prime?
Bas: Now finally fighters start to get alrounded, in my time there were not that many who could do that. That’s why I always say that I am happy with my record, didn’t lose the last 22, only 3 went to a decision, 12 KO’s and 13 submissions.
Kevin: My 8 yr old now knows who Bas Rutten is, how was the transition to cartoon network?
Bas: It was easy, ask my family, I am a big kid. Its easy with me, what you see is what you get, I am not putting on an act, I am just myself, which makes the whole thing extremely pleasant for me. I love this job and can’t wait to start my anti bullying campaign.
MMBB: Can you speak of the anti bullying campaign a bit?
Bas: I wish I could teach them how to defend themselves as a “last resort” thing, but right now its just letting the kids who are watching, know what THEY should do. They should get help, they should tell. Nobody likes a bully, not even their own friends who are probably scared of them. But nothing is better then, when everything else fails, to give them a good lesson. When taught the right way, they can do that without “beating in” the bullies faces.
Of course I understand that many kids simply don’t have the “gift” for it, that’s why we focus on the kids who are watching it. Then go talk to the bullies parents, if they are the same as the bully, simply call the cops.
Kevin:With all the instructional DVD’s you have out, which would you recommend the most?
Bas: The Big DVD’s of combat, even BJ Penn called me and told me that he thought I made the best instructional out there. Many other fighters have said the same. You really get your money’s worth, 7 DVD’s FULL of techniques, and most important, I show you the escapes right away.
Kevin: Speaking of B.J., after seeing him get dominated twice Vs. Frankie Edgar, do you think it’s time for a change in training or teams for Penn?
Bas: I truly believe so, I open a new gym and gonna spend a lot of time there. I am open to have BJ there, I am 100 % sure I can make him even better, he learns fast and I see a lot of stuff he can work on.
Kevin: Do you feel it’s BJ Penns camp as far as training or the fact that he tends to surround himself with yes men? I mean Parillo offered nothing except derogatory comments about Edgar in between rounds at UFC 118.
Bas: He should surround himself more with people who say NO sometimes. But since I don’t know who’s in charge during the camps, I can’t comment on that.
The trainers should tell the student what to do, and the student has to do it, if that means 3 more extra rounds, so be it. He fully needs to trust his trainers and do whatever they tell him to do.
Many “big name fighters”, control their own workouts, this can NOT happen. Like I said, I don’t know how it goes in his camp, I am just saying what in a good camp happens.
Kevin: Where is the new gym going to be and when does it open?
Bas: Its in Thousand Oaks CA, really nice, state of the art, 8500sf with abother 2000 optional which we take as soon as we signed up 100 more students. Sauna’s, newest power training equipment (Coremax), Everlast everywhere, awesome! September 25th it opens.
Kevin: Last question, since we are talking about training, can you set the record straight about what happened with Kimbo?
Bas: I lost respect for him as a fighter, and once that happens its over.
I told him this. I have NO problem with Kimbo whatsoever, just when that’s gone, its gone. I hear he’s gonna box, that’s gonna be way better for him.
Kevin: Thanks a lot Bas, I really appreciate the time!
Bas: Godspeed & Party on!
Kevin Wright writes for Monday Morning Black Belt.
