The legendary story of martial arts legend Bas Rutten

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

Ready to dive into the inspiring life of one of the toughest 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 had no clue that the skinny, asthmatic boy would become a martial arts legend. While many of the children he grew up with in the Netherlands played sports like soccer, young Bas struggled with health problems that often made him the target of bullies. Little did his bullies know that they were forging the indestructible spirit that defined his life and career.

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

Bas Rutten’s decision to try martial arts turned out to be one of the best moves he had ever made. He completely transformed a few years after he started training, going from a sickly little boy to a muscular young man who was offered a modeling job.

The rise of El Guapo

Bas knocked out one of his worst bullies in a street fight a few months after he began training, leading law enforcement to visit 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 left his parents’ home at 21 and returned to training in Taekwondo. He also began learning Kyokushin Karate while attending culinary school and earned a second degree black belt when he finished school.

Bas started kickboxing in his 20s and was very successful, winning 14 of his 16 fights by knockout. He earned a shot at the European Muay Thai title but was eliminated in the first round. The quick finish, along with controversy over his previous match during the tournament which ended in a brawl after Bas kneed his opponent, Rene Rooze (who bit him), led Bas to move away from kickboxing. But he wasn’t done with combat sports.

Transition to Pancrase and MMA

Bas was recruited by Japanese professional wrestlers looking for competitors for a new organization they had created called Pancrase. It was one of the precursors of modern mixed martial arts as it allowed the use of some striking and grappling techniques. It was there that many of those who became MMA legends, such as Frank Shamrock, Ken Shamrock and Maurice Smith, began to make a name for themselves.

Bas spent most of his time in the 1990s 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 wrestling for Pancrase. He switched to mixed martial arts in 1999 and signed up for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He went 2-0 with the promotion, defeating Tsuyoshi Kohsaka by technical knockout in his debut and securing a split decision win over 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 the history of combat sports and won 20 consecutive fights to close out his career. He is one of the few legends who could leave the sport on their own terms.

Breaking down Bas Rutten’s legendary fighting style

One thing that made Bas successful in Pancrase and mixed martial arts was the unique and well-rounded fighting style he developed. It’s not surprising since a Bruce Lee movie inspired him to learn martial arts. Lee saw martial arts as a form of self-expression and believed that only those who expressed themselves honestly 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 as he blended aspects of Dutch kickboxing with Taekwondo. Other fighters often found his street fighting mentality, combined with his devastating kicking techniques, quite intimidating.

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

If one aspect of Bas’ fighting style stands out, it would be his ability to target the liver area. Many opponents have found themselves on the canvas after being punched, kicked or kneed in the liver.

Life beyond the cage

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

His experience, charisma and confidence have allowed him to remain relevant in the MMA spaces even after his fighting days.

Bas Rutten’s legacy

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

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

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