The Legendary Tale Of Martial Arts Legend Bas Rutten

Sebastiaan “Bas” Rutten is one of the most famous legends in mixed martial arts history and has been there since the beginning. He’s a man who has worn many hats in life, such as kickboxing champion, MMA pioneer, UFC champion, MMA commentator, and Hollywood star.

Ready to dive into the inspiring life of one of the most badass figures in martial arts history? Buckle up as we dive into the inspiring life of Bas Rutten.

The Early Days: From Skinny Kid To MMA Champion

Most people who met Bas Rutten during his childhood didn’t have the faintest idea that the asthma-ridden, skinny kid would grow up to be a martial arts legend. While many of the children he grew up with in the Netherlands were outside playing sports like soccer, young Bas was dealing with health issues that often made him the target of bullies. Little did his bullies know they were forging the unbreakable spirit that defined his life and career.

One day, a light bulb went off in Bas’s head after watching Bruce Lee‘s Enter the Dragon with his family, and he became fascinated with martial arts. Inspired by watching Lee defeat armies of foes with only his fists and legs, Bas decided to take up Taekwondo. The young, sickly kid had officially started on his path to greatness.

Bas Rutten’s decision to try martial arts turned out to be one of the best moves he ever made. He was wholly transformed a few years after he started training, going from a sickly kid to a muscle-bound young man who was offered a modeling gig.

The Rise Of El Guapo

Bas knocked out one of his worst bullies in a street fight a few months after he started training, leading to law enforcement visiting his parents. Young Bas was banned from learning Taekwondo by his parents after the incident, but that didn’t stop him from writing a list of his bullies and beating them all up individually.

Bas moved out of his parents’ house at 21 and went back to training in Taekwondo. He also started learning Kyokushin Karate while attending culinary school and earned a second-degree blackbelt by the time he finished school.

Bas started kickboxing in his early 20s, and he enjoyed lots of success, winning 14 of his 16 fights via knockout. He earned a shot at the European Muay Thai title but got knocked out in the first round. The quick finish, along with the controversy surrounding his previous fight during the tournament that ended up in a brawl after Bas kneed his opponent, Rene Rooze (who bit him), led to Bas walking away from kickboxing. He wasn’t done with combat sports, though.

Transition To Pancrase And MMA

Bas was recruited by Japanese pro wrestlers looking for contestants for a new organization they had created called Pancrase. It was one of the precursors to modern mixed martial arts as it allowed using some striking and grappling techniques. That was where many who became MMA legends, like Frank Shamrock, Ken Shamrock, and Maurice Smith, started making a name for themselves.

Bas spent most of his time during the ’90s competing in Pancrase, winning Unified King of Pancrase and Pancrase Openweight champion. El Guapo had emerged as one of the most formidable men in combat sports.

Bas put together a 25-4-1 record while fighting for Pancrase. He transitioned into mixed martial arts in 1999 and signed up with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He went 2-0 with the promotion, defeating Tsuyoshi Kohsaka via technical knockout during his debut and securing a split decision victory against the late Kevin Randleman at UFC 20 to win the heavyweight title.

His last MMA fight took place six years later at WFA: King of the Streets seven years later. He defeated Ruben Villareal via TKO, bringing his MMA record to 3-0. He finished with one of the most decorated records in combat sports history and won 20 consecutive fights to close out his career. He’s one of the few legends who could walk away from the sport on their terms.

Breaking Down Bas Rutten’s Legendary Fighting Style

One thing that made Bas successful in Pancrase and mixed martial arts was the well-rounded, unique fighting style he developed. It’s not surprising since a Bruce Lee movie inspired him to learn martial arts. Lee viewed martial arts as a form of self-expression and believed only those who honestly expressed themselves could reach their full potential as martial artists. Lee believed that martial artists should use techniques from different styles to develop the best martial art for themselves.

Bas was a force to be reckoned with standing up as he blended aspects of Dutch Kickboxing with Taekwondo. Other fighters often found his street fighting mentality, coupled with his devastating kicking techniques, to be quite intimidating.

One of Rutten’s favorite tactics during his fighting days was using push kicks to knock opponents off balance before swarming them with punches and palm strikes. He was also adept at using his strikes to discourage opponents from wrestling him to the canvas.

If one aspect of Bas’s fighting style sticks out, it would be his skill at targeting the liver area. Many opponents found themselves on the canvas after taking punches, kicks, or knees to their liver.

Life Beyond The Cage

Bas Rutten’s story doesn’t stop with his retirement from mixed martial arts. He’s been just as successful in other career paths he explored, like coaching, commentating, and acting. Bas has appeared in over 38 movies, TV shows, and video games.

His expertise, charisma, and confidence have allowed him to remain relevant in MMA spaces long after his fighting days.

The Legacy Of Bas Rutten

There are many lessons anyone can learn from the life of El Guapo. He teaches us never to underestimate how far being resilient can get you. Bas also teaches us to embrace our strengths and work on our weaknesses. He was very sickly as a child, but he transformed himself through hard work and determination.

Bas also teaches us to have fun along our journeys. The former world champion’s infectious personality and sense of humor helped to make him a beloved figure in the martial arts community.

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