Bas Quits!

_Mick_ · 12/20/2005 8:37pm

"I quit Pride! I know, quite a shocker eh?"

"Why would people say, it’s a dream job! You are absolutely right, it IS a dream job, and the Company is great, they have unbelievable fighters and unbelievable shows!"

"Of course this is not without a good reason, and just to make sure that there are NO misunderstandings, I am going to tell you a little bit of what happened. (Pay attention to the “little bit part”) If I don’t do this, people start speculating and rumors will get started and this way you hear it straight from me and not some gossip that people are going to make up."

"First of all, I deal with people here in the States that work for Pride, so it’s NOT the fault of the people that work for Pride in Japan. The people in Japan are great people and the President Mr. Sakikabara is a very nice person and he and his staff has always been very good to me."

"I came to the States to try to become an actor so I asked them if I could only do the Pride shows for next year, no more Bushido shows, because I already had said “NO” to three movies, all leads, and the reason for that was that I had to go to Japan all the time."

"So I asked to do only the Pride shows and because the company grew so much, PLUS I really think that I did a good job and a lot of good work for Pride, I thought it was time for me, after 6 years of working for them, to ask for a raise. Well, here we go, the “very short version” out of respect that I have for the Company. The negotiations started, going back and forward, saying this, saying that, you know, the usual negotiations drills, and it resulted in me finding out that Frank Trigg is co-hosting the next “Pride FSN show”."

"Wow!! Now NOT telling me that this was going to happen after everything that I did for them in the last 6 years?? That was something just unbelievable and that was right away the motivation behind my decision to quit. (Of course this is not the only reason, that’s why I said the “little bit”) If they would have at least called or emailed me to inform me that Frank was going to do it, I would have been OK with that, because there are many reasons that they can come up with for that. But doing this behind my back, I mean, don’t these same people here call me “The face of Pride?” No thank you! This is just NOT the way you treat people and trust me, surely not me!"

"That’s it! It’s also not a thing that I can turn back, because once I know that people don’t respect me for what I do for them, it’s irreversible. That’s just my character and I can’t change that, I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror anymore if I did stay with them and still have to work with the people here in the US who don’t respect me."

"I feel VERY bad about all this and I am sure that I am going to miss this job tremendously, the fighters, their trainers and friends, the staff in Japan, the friends that I made over there and of course the wonderful reactions from you guys that I always received!!"

"Understand that I won’t go into details (this is for the people who want to interview me, this is it, I won’t say anything more). First of all because I am not that kind of person and second, because I had a great and outstanding 6 years with Pride and like I said before, Mr. Sakikabara and the Japanese staff always have been treating me with respect and have been very good to me."

"I wish Frank Trigg all the best of luck and I hope that he will do a great job! Together with the one and only Mauro Ranallo, who’s the best play-by-play guy in the business I truly believe, it should be no problem!"

"No worry though, because I am pretty sure that “El Guapo” is not out of the picture and will “pop up” somewhere else, because this is in my blood and you simply can’t get that out just like that!"

"The one thing that’s good about it, this will be the first time in 6 years that I am home for New Years Eve with my family and I love that!"

"Happy Holidays everybody, and I really hope that you understand my decision.

Best wishes,

Bas Rutten "

From www.basrutten.tv/

**MuayThaiBri67** · Posted On: 12/20/2005 8:59pm

Damn, that sucks. Hopefully we'll see Bas commentating in UFC or something.

**TehDeadlyDimMak** · Posted On: 12/20/2005 9:57pm

Pride without Bas is like...

a republican without a gun.

**supercrap** · Posted On: 12/20/2005 10:29pm

He will be sorely missed, but good on him for standing up for himself.

Perhaps a Bas Rutten quotation appreciation is in order?

"Go for de buddy shots! Dat's what I always tell my guys, I always tell dem, Go for de buddy shots!"

"Why do people always do dat... why do dey try to block de knee to de head with their hands? It's like I always tell my guys, I always tell them, If you tape a glove to your head, is it gonna stop the knees hurting? Of course not!"

yadda yadda.

**PirateJon** · Posted On: 12/20/2005 10:32pm

Or like the south without racism. Dana should snatch him up NOW. Joe n Bas for the win.

Bas quote... where's the one about him tapping out his wife in the middle of the night?

I have three daughters, Rachele, Sabine and Bianca. The boys that they are going to date if their old are not going to be happy, I can tell you that!

**The Twitcher** · Posted On: 12/20/2005 10:55pm

That's a bummer, he's one of my heros too...

**wingchundo** · Posted On: 12/20/2005 10:55pm

Bas should axe kick Rogan. Then Rogan can say, "whoa! I'm rawked!"

And then Bas can take over as Rogan bleeds out.

**Anger Released** · Posted On: 12/21/2005 12:07am

I suspect hel be going to cage rage.....O well,prolly more Japanese RIPS floating round.

**** Trigg,he does alot of commentating for K-1 on fight network,he suxors.

**Knightmare** · Posted On: 12/21/2005 12:10am

Frank Trigg sux0rs at everything.

Reality shows, fighting contenders, promoting a clothing line, and now announcing.

EDIT: I'd like to see Bas start training guys again. He's worked with and helped make champs out Schilt, Kerr, and Ludwig.