Danny Acosta: What will be the impact the IFL had on the sport looking back?

Bas Rutten: Oh, [laughs] another company that tried and didn’t work. That’s it right there. I have no clue why it happened. I thought the company was a great company. They produced great fighters and got really good really fast. It shows now in the UFC, they’re everywhere. They’re all good…it was a great experience…[The IFL] blew a lot of money, but it’s too late. It’s always easy to talk afterwards. They produced some good fighters. The good part is they released the fighters, so everybody’s fighting.

DA: Out of all the guys that signed with the UFC (Reese Andy, Rory Markham, Jim Miller etc.), who will have the most success?

BR: Rory Markham is still a stud. That guy can take a hit and he always comes back from the dead. I really like him. His fighting style, he should start getting less hit before he wakes up. For longevity, I would say slip the punches a little bit more. He’s a guy that can do that. He’s remarkable. He’s got good power, good speed.

Reese Andy is good and dominating but he should really learn to…I would really like to see him finish people, start finishing people. He’s controlling.

“Big Country” Roy Nelson, I’m looking forward to that [his upcoming fight with Paul Buentello in Affliction]. He’s a good guy, very talented. I look at him and he’s the opposite of what a fighter should look like, but I like it. He’s big. He’s strong. He’s got technique. He’s a good guy. He’s Tank Abbott but with technique.

DA: He’s fighting Paul Buentello October 11.

BR: That’ll be a great fight. Paul Buentello is going to have his hands full, let me tell you that. Paul Buentello isn’t as good on the ground, where fights go most of the time. Okay, he got hit in the liver against Alistair, most of the time [he loses] because it goes to the ground. Buentello’s got great hands. He’s a great striker, strong guy, tough character, but I just have a feeling that the wrestling skills of Roy Nelson will be too much for him. He’s going to take him to the ground for sure and go for ground and pound or submission.

DA: Overall, who do you think will become the biggest star and best fighter from the IFL?

BR: Oh my god, that’s a difficult one my friend. Wagnney Fabiano, how about that?

DA: Favorite fights in the IFL?

BR: Ah, there were some great fights. [Chris] Horodecki and [Bart] Palaszewski, the first one. No! There was another great one….it’s a difficult question. Horodecki and Palaszewski, the first time that went back and forth—toe to toe. Palaszweski would turn it up and Horodecki would hit him back…ah no! Best fight in the IFL, now I’ve got it, of course. Horodecki versus Seattle Tiger Shark Shad Lierely. That was the fight everybody in the audience were standing. I would say 90%. They were just insane, back and forth. I really loved that fight.

DA: Best behind the scenes moment?

BR: I don’t know…

DA: No famous Bas Rutten stories?

BR: We went to sign autographs and do some promotion in Ohio. And Horodecki, Shawn Tompkins and myself, we crashed a wedding in the hotel. But security found out really fast and they came [laughs]. We got kicked out but that was really fun to do.

DA: How does your experience with the IFL compare to the other orgs you’ve worked with?

BR: Good. It was one big family. We had a lot of fun. Everybody was hanging out with the coaches. It was great to see the coaches that you fought against in the past, to see those guys again. And we’re all having dinner with those guys. It was a great experience, but for me everything is always great. I’m always happy about everything.

DA: If you could take a script that already exists and make yourself the star of the movie, what would it be?

BR: Three Amigos.

DA: Would you be Chevy Chase?

BR: You know what? I would be “El Guapo”.

DA: If you could take any actor and turn them into an MMA fighter, who would you choose?

BR: Kevin James.

DA: He’s already got the skills.

BR: He’s already has skills, but that would be very fun, him beating the s--t out of everybody.

DA: Never Back Down or Redbelt?

BR: I didn’t see Never Back Down, but for the storylines, I’d say Redbelt. And for fighting wise, I’d say Never Back Down because the fights in there were more up to date than Redbelt was. Redbelt was, if they would have made that movie in ‘95 just when the UFC was out, with the GI and the total style differences, then it wouldn’t be corny. But I think this is more up to date, Never Back Down with the style of fighting. Story wise, Redbelt.

DA: Anything else for fans?

BR: Godspeed and Party On.

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