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How A Nightclub Bouncer Became The Greatest MMA Fighter
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- Published on Jun 12, 2025
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Before there was Alex Pereira or Israel Adesanya or really any of the most incredible kickboxers came over to MMA, there was Bas Rutten. He's the one to first blaze that trail and even retire on top. This is the story of Bas Rutten.
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#ufc #mma #ufcsphere #basrutten #pancrase 
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Thanks for the shoutout - well done.
Amazing! So glad you were able to watch it, was a pleasure to write about your career sir! Keep on inspiring future generations! 🙏 oss
El Guapo himself!
wow ! wow . I had no idea dude .Great to see what legends really are made of . Inspiring . Long life and i love your Christian hearted media work of late. Great .
@OfficialBasRutten miss you basito
Bas je bent een legende in de mma wereld
I was the overweight bullied kid growing up. I hated going to school, and when I was 18, I watched TK fight Bas. That day changed my life and I wanted to compete like Bas, and I went on to train my ass off and competed in 14 mma competitions. Trained with a team but had all of Bas's dvds and learned so much. Thanks Bas because you inspired to do something that few do! Love ya brother!
do you do martial arts 🥋
@ScottLally-v7i yes. I teach more now,you learn a lot more from teaching because you have to break down stuff you dont think about, but my 20s and 30s were training and competing, in grappling, cage fighting, and kickboxing.
@@rodger603 I started doing Brazilian jit jitsu
@ScottLally-v7i that's a great sport. You should look into a judo or Sambo class to supplement your ground game. There's a lot of nasty throws in those styles, and you get points for throwing someone in most tournaments.
@rodger603 maybe sometime in future thanks for the advice 👍 😀
Bas Rutten is generous enough to have all thirty-two of his fights (with commentary!) in a playlist on his RUclips channel, if you're interested. It's so fascinating listening to him critique himself (especially early in his career), listening to his stories, and watching his evolution. Watch him destroy livers at will, make grown men weep, and just murder people.
and there are really entertaining to watch.
Thank you for pointing this out. I've seen a reel or two of his self commentary but didn't realise all his fights were there.
I really liked hearing his spiritual journey too..
bas is a great witness for Christ
Thanks for sharing, I'm subscribed to his channel but wasn't aware of this. Will give this a gander, in good time.
All except his ufc fights for obvious reasons. His last fight isn't on their either
What I find most joyful about Bas is although he has a long standing international career he is still just that down to earth Dutch guy you'll find loads of here on the streets.
Really?? Dutch women are smoking hot, the men can fight and they're down to earth? Wow, much respect. Have a good one :-)
Happy to see you guys giving Bas the love he deserves🤝🏻🐐
Thanks so much my dude! Appreciate you stopping by. Def need to do a collab.
@@MMAOnPoint maybe we can oil each other up soon! Cheers
Renato Laranja also gave Bas the flowers he deserves on his podcast =)
what a beautiful documentary , love it 👍
he deserves it,,,he speaks from his heart,,he doesn't hide anything,..,he's an inspiration to all,,,to get your life straightend out...Bas Rutten he's a realist...a gem of a guy..
I met bas before I knew who he even was. I helped him at a FedEx office in Waikiki where I worked at back in 2011 or 2012. He was so nice and gave me a autographed picture "to Rey thanks for the help" and I lost it. FML. Lol my point is he was so nice even tho I had no idea who he was. This man is a genuine nice person.
The Real Life “Liver King”
10/10 comment 🤌🏼
This comment is GOAT'd.
Bruh.😂
What a good one!@@MMAOnPoint👍🏼
For real for real 😂
Not only is he everything you stated in the video. He is also incredibly gracious towards his fans
A champion through and through
While everyone else was looking for leg locks, he mastered the liver lock
Some day i hope to get to that level of liver shots. So far I'm 3-0 in muay thai, 1-0 in boxing and 2-0 in mma and only one of the muay thai fights didn't end in a liver shot. I much prefer it because it's quite easy to find and you don't actually give them permanent brain damage.
While dudes were looking for the double leg he'd put that knee right into their bodies. it was devastating
@@fredit123456789nope just a failing liver xD
Thank you for providing mature, interesting and respectful coverage (and expansion) of the UFC world.
More documentary style videos please, i listen to these while at work. Makes the day so much easier
Bas did what most people just dream off, beating your boss into unconsciousness
Bas is one of the few original who I think would translate well if they were fighting today dude’s athleticism and ability to learn quickly was ahead of his time
Imagine a young Bas in any of the top mma gyms of today
100%. If he'd had access to American wrestlers to train with and medical support to keep him healthy I think he would've dominated for a long time in the 2000s, even now.
I genuinely consider Bas to be one of the greatest of all time. Of course, you have to factor in the different era's of the sport when debating things like this.
But for me, Bas becoming a world class Jiu Jitsu specialist so quickly after his loss to Shamrock, so quickly to the point it felt almost instant, tells me at least, that he's just a pure natural fighter. Born to do this.
I believe if you put Bas Rutten in any era, with the same access to the levels of coaching, nutrition and financial income to sustain a career as the relative competion at the time, he no doubt competes at the very highest level across the years.
In fact, I'd go as far as say that his skill set and potential is so high, that the more modern era you imagine him in, the more dominant he becomes.
@@redacted1886lol doubt it.
Bus Rutten dethroned alcohol on when it comes to liver damage. well done.
Anything Bas related, I click.
I respect a Man who is told you can't close-fist Punch anyone, so you completely reform palm striking into a legit form that can knockout anyone to the body or head.
That Bar Self-Defense Video is one of the greatest and most refreshing videos to watch compared to all the McDojo shit going on.
I am happy to see him do better with his arm/nerve issue nowadays too.
Prancrase allowed closed-fisted punches... (just not to the head).
"Bar Self-Defense Video" Thanks for the tip buddy!
@@TheFeebleClonedunkada dunkada. Don’t you doo thaaat
Not only an epic fighter but he helped truly grow and cultivate the field of MMA. It's incredible he has breakdowns of all his fights too!
Bad Rutten is probably my fave fighter of all time. This will be a treat.
Same, tha man had the best work ethic of all time!
Bas Rutten!
He is in my top 5, right next to Ramone The Diamond Dekkers, my top 2, after that Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Demetrius Mighty Mouse Johnson. Yep, can't swap out any of them lol.
Bas was the man, I've watched so many videos about his career but this is one of the best, if not the best. It's crazy to hear he was making 10k a month in Pancrase injured or not in the early 2000's. The UFC don't pay 85% of their fighters that well, most have to fight 3 or 4 times to clear 100k in a year. Makes me happy for Bas, he deserves all the love.
That is why Ken Shamrock quit the UFC and went to work for wwf. There was way more money in it at the time he couldn't make a living in W the UFC back then
Bas is a legendary fighter but more importantly a legendary person.
This man had to be a scientist in his past life, the efficiency of his process to learn and improve is unrivaled
I was just thinking of a way to put that. Of all the different Fighters over the years that you hear talking about techniques Etc Bas really breaks it down to an incredibly technical yet basic level.
Kind of like how they mention Larry Bird's basketball IQ and his understanding and view of the game being miles ahead of everyone else. Bas's fight IQ is off the chart. They weren't just students of the game they were Scholars
I absolutely love MMA On Point i don’t even need to watch this video to know i’m going to love it. These documentary style videos are my favorite.
Bas is my all time fav!! Everything he is, from his fighting ability to his on screen charisma, he's the perfect example of a MMA fighter. LONG LIVE EL GUAPO!
I watched that man on VHS back in the day with me and my friends and we would smoke weed and blast metal while Bas Rutten was on the tv, in shin guards, smacking mofos up. Those were amazing times.
We would’ve been good friends then. 🤙
Might have to fire up some old highlights blast some metal and smoke a bowl for ya brother
gals will never understand
Sounds good 👍
@@FishLipznFatRipzshould grow tf up 👍🏻
Bas would approve... you guys always do your homework and recognize greatness
Hope Bas sees this. He’s truly a martial artist, worthy of all his flowers
I saw it. 🥋 😎
@@OfficialBasRutten you are the best ❤l
Love from india legend ...one in a billion
@@OfficialBasRuttenlegend
@@OfficialBasRutten holy shit it’s Bas! Lol Thank you for all you did and still do.
All the best to a legend!
@@KingCuba Bas talked to you!
Bas was who got me into MMA, it was 2009 and i was playing GTA 4 where they actually motion captured a bunch of stuff with bad rutten for a ingame TV show you could watch ccalled Mens room.
so i was in game, sitting infront of the TV as nico and i was watching all the mens room clips, then i looked up bas and found his self defence stuff and then his real fights, i was hooked!
thx old rockstar and bas for getting me into MMA!
I'm so here for Bas Ruten love! So glad to see legends get mini docs
What a legend Bas is… learning grappling that way is just legendary sh!t
Bas is very special person, he was not only great fighter but also very funny guy. If i should name only one person as my "top fighter" it would be Bas. What a Legend.
Thank you. 🙏🏼
Even with the injury shortened career
He's the REAL GOAT, but no one is ready for that convo.
Talent pool wasn’t even close to what it is today. Nostalgia goggles
I’ve been on a Bas Rutten binge lately! This is almost perfectly timed.
The best type of binge is a Bas Binge.
If you haven't yet, check out his channel
All the homies love Bas Rutten
I've been a Bas Rutten fan for a long time. Started out watching him on AXS TV back in the day. Realized how badass he was and watched his fights. It's awesome to see a video like this about this legend.
AXS TV Fights was my jam! Rutten and Miletich were a helluva team, basically perfect as the wild man and straight man combination of commentators.
These fighter bios are amazing. The rampage Jackson one was great too
I watched Bas Rutten vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka live way back In tha day. That's still one of my all time favorite fights.
Clicked on this video by accident, ended up staying to watch the whole thing🤝. The editing and the way it was put together along with the actual story was top notch
Really didnt know too much about Bas when i started editing this but I am so happy with how the final result turned out. A real pioneer with his best work 100% in Japan. Learning about how he taught himself grappling from tapes and then went on to beat the best grapplers Japan could offer. Incredible story and so happy i could help reimagine it!
Glad so many people are hyped about it too! 🎉
Impressive editing
Great video!
Great work.
@@OfficialBasRutten Thanks Bas! Glad you liked it!
If didn't know about Bas you are not real marsala artist Fan
Interesting note about Bas; he has 14 submission victories and attempted ZERO takedowns in his career.
"the factory that cleans everything in your body is the liver, and if you give it a good bang.. hell yeah" - Bas Rutten
your brain is what you think with, and if you give it a good bang.. hell yeah
On a side note: “Hello Japan!” Is hilarious every time I see it lol.
Years before I got into mma, when I was still a young kid, I remember Bas doing the ads on Cartoon Network that were meant to promote healthy lifestyles to younger people, encouraging good hygiene and exercise. He’s always been such a positive figure in my memory, even when I did get into fighting and watched his old Pancrase fights and heard his commentary on those and the Pride shows, he’s always seemed like such a kind and funny man. Dudes a legend and I absolutely loved this work you guys put into making this video, he’s truly an absolute legend.
Best birthday gift ever let’s go
Happy birthday fellow human!
@@peterpetersilie6739thank you brother
Happy Birthday, Fazey. 🎂
Happy Birthday 🎂
I'm a little late but happy birthday! lol
A fitting tribute to an absolute Legend. Well done. I feel the love.
Finally some Bas Rutten love. El guapo ftw!
Thank you guys so much for giving Bas his due! That man was amazing and so great to watch evolve and improve every time he encountered adversity to come back to start winning using those same techniques. ❤❤❤
Bas Rutten = ABSOLUTE LEGEND
Bas is also just a MAN to be proud of. Stand up dude, through and through.
Love Bas!! He is such a down to earth, cool, funny, and just awesome dude all around. Met him once, he had a cool vibe/aura to him that’s hard to explain. Maybe just cause I was star struck. Lol
Loved him as commentator of Pride, and his show Inside MMA with Kenny Rice on HDNet back in like 2007-2012 was THE place for MMA news
Bas is one of the most beloved MMA fighters of all time and he spent most of hid career before mma was popular and mainly fought in Japan.
I'm so glad you guys made this. Bas is literally one of my favorite humans on the planet. Not only for his fighting, which was amazing on it's own, but he's such a hilarious and down to earth guy. He deserves all his success and much more in my opinion. He's in my top 10 MMA fighters ever. Go Bas! And the fight with Kevin wasn't even close. Bas won by a mile RIP Kevin Randleman.
Thank you for this guys. Bas has always been my favorite.
Bas is from my home town of Eindhoven in the Netherlands (don't call it Holland, Eindhoven is not in Holland) and what I love most about him is that he still talks the way we do over here. The jovial, sightly eccentric way he tells his stories, that's the way we do it overhere and I love that fact that, despite being in the States for decades now, Bas has retained that spirit.
Kwee nie....ik zou d'r een dakkapel opzetten 😉🤣
Very interesting. Would be fun to visit Nederlands one day.
Is gewoon Holland
@michelrood2966 nope, Brabant
Actually he was from Tilburg, training taekwondo and kyokushinkai.
BAS is a complete treasure to combat sport, a motivational speaker, comedian and a life coach to hundreds of thousands of people across the world. We love BAS and pray God continues to watch over him and bless him ❤️💯🙏
This was an amazing video. Well done!
So happy to see bas getting his well earned respect hes so unappreciated and not talked about. Mmaonpoint is an amazing channel😂🎉
This was an amazing documentary. Great work guys, deserves so many more views than it has currently (65k)
Just loved this video as much as I love Bas Rutten. He's such a nice guy and his timing with strikes and kicks were on par with his great sense of humor. I really found it fascinating that he and his buddy were breaking down the submission game on their own to learn techniques.
I've gotten to meet Bas a few times when he's done seminars at my gym. Such a nice, genuine dude. He's exactly what you'd expect.
GOOD MAN HE PUT HIS FAMILY FIRST. ABSOLUTE RESPECT.
Bas & Mirco were ahead of the curve in learning gymnastics & being able to do splits. Makes kicking so much easier i'd assume.
A lot more powerful also
Your videos are dope , no disrespectful undertone even for fighters that fight past their prime
Excellent video, guys 👍
Bas is a true legend, a superstar and a great guy all rolled in one.
OG Pancrease rules were the best MMA rules. Palm strikes and rope breaks are an underrated contribution to the show and the quality of the fights.
Mma on point yall coming a long way keep it up
Happy to see you all finally giving Bas the credit he's due. A lot of people overlook his title fight against Randleman because he fought off his back the entire time, but he did damage the entire fight.
It's crazy seeing young Suzuki when he's still doing pro wrestling today.
Amazing! Thanks so much. Totally kept me glued to it. Great vid! And Kudos to Bas!
Thank you for doing this video on my Sensei. I've known the man for almost 18 years, and I often forget just how important he is to so many people's lives and Martial Arts growth. He helped shape me into the man I am today, and I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world because of the experience.
Thank you guys, and well done.
P.S. if only you knew all the stories Bas could tell you about funny experiences or insane moments in his life. You could make a three hour video and you still wouldn't scratch the surface! OSU
Dude!!! Great video!!! Seriously getting to see some of his old fights all put together like this in one polished vid is excellent! I’m sure Bas will smile when he sees this.
Excellent video, I’ve seen all bas rutten videos on RUclips , and you did one of the greatest jobs on this one I’ve ever seen. Great stuff, bass helped me a lot in my game . The guy is insanneee
Thanks my guy!
Thank you
great video! bas definitely was the most dangerous and besides that, an extremely entertaining fighter of this era. the liver king lives forever ^^
Great content guys! 🔥
Thank you for the consistently best mma on content on youtube. I don't know what i'd do without it. It's my go to "watch while eating" material. You guys rule
pancrase was AMAZING
bas rutten is one of the best
It was not MMA. No boxing, no ground and pound, touching the ropes to continue after getting submitted, etc. BS
Thank You for this video! Bas is one of my favorite all time fighters. Not going to lie, I Loved his commentary in Pride too
This video is so good well done guys!!!
Marco Ruas King of the Streets "UFC 7 Champion" would be a great one to see covered here. He was the first complete fighter in MMA. He spent he entire life in the Luta Livre camp in Brazil and they were the main rivals to the Gracies. He could Wrestle, Submit, and strike when everyone was still one dimensional!!!!!
I got his autograph at a UFC. Nice guy
@@ZENIGMATV I think he gets forgotten along with some of the early pioneers!! But Marco Ruas is a real Legend!!
You guys did a truly amazing job on this. BAs was my fave back in the early 2000’s. His commentating on Pride and Bushism was epic as well. Thanks for this!
I leard a lot from Bas techniques watching his fights and by him explaining it, tricky kicks, when is the right time to load shots, etc... he is one of a kind. GREATEST FIGHTER 💯 My personal favorite next to GSP SILVA and DJ 🔥🧡 thank you for this awesome docu of King "EL GUAPO"
Bas is undoubtedly THE pioneer of MMA bro basically taught himself ground game.
Whenever i hear the name Bas Rutten I immediately hear those liver kicks he gave the tough Japanese dude that kept getting up after being dropped by those evil sounding kicks
Amazing video!! Thanks so much, it is very much appreciated.. God bless y'all !!
MMA Right On Point 💯
Big Shout Out To
"El Guapo" Bas Rutten 💯
Hell yeah. Well deserved. This guy took time out of his day to share his knowledge and experiences with addiction, with me. He didnt know me or nothing. Jus helping a stranger out
"dengerde dengerde dang 👊"
- Bas Rutten.
New favorite MMA On Point Video.
This is in my humble opinion your greatest work to date Bayliun!
You might know Bas' career better than Bas himself at this point🤣
Thanks man haha, gotta give props to luke for the editing!
Bas was a competitor and as tough as they come. I try to imagine what a man like that would be in today's world, with next level instruction.
Still Bas blows my mind. These old school guys built the UFC on their backs.
Bas has some fantastic night club stories.
Finally, a well made overview doc of Bas. The man is a legend!
This was so awesome. Can we get one on Don Frye? Dan Severn? Tank Abbott would be cool too.
Not just one of the best fighters. One of the coolest dudes. Really well put together doc. Great stuff. Bless.
I was not expecting to see goddamn Minoru Suzuki on here who knew murder grandpa was an even bigger badass than I thought he was
Oh I loved this. My son saw Bas in the UFC5 game and I got to tell him a bit of Bas' history and l, together with Fedor, it's his favorite fighter in martial arts. Great video
Great fucking words lads
Bas is one tough dude! And a humble Champion. 🥋
Would love to meet baz, he is a beast
Been a fan of Bas since the late 90’s early 2000’s.. him and Frank shamrock are on my hall of fame list for sure. I used to look at them as complete fighters back then.
Bas literally burst a mans liver with a punch. Brutal power.
Correction. Kick.
Bas deserves to be talked about more..
Why is Bas not a UFC commentator?
Bas Rutten and Michael Bisping don't get along.
@@xxAutoglocktaviusxx Modern Bisping has pull sure, but why would that keep Bas out the years prior? Him and Dana have public beef or something?
Maybe they just didn't pay him enough or perhaps they wanted an exclusivity contract which would mean he couldn't commentate for karate combat. The exact reason we will probably never know.
He was commentating for other promotions. UFC wants exclusive contracts. So they just don't mix.
@@xxAutoglocktaviusxx They do get along, where did u get that info? Bisping was on Bas's MMA show and they pranked everybody acting like they were hating eachother