UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten recently spoke with YouTuber Tim Ferris about his approach to de-escalating and handling street fights, drawing on his years of experience as a professional fighter and bouncer.
Rutten shared practical insights on how to defuse conflicts and protect oneself when necessary.
Break It Down Calmly
Rutten emphasized that the key to avoiding most fights is communication. “From the 10 situations, nine times we don’t fight because I talk him out of it,” he explained. His strategy often involved calmly analyzing the situation and helping the aggressors see the absurdity of their anger.
Rutten gave an example: “‘He was looking at my wife,’ I go, ‘He was looking at your wife? Did he touch her? Did he say derogatory things at her? Did he make faces at her?’”
Rutten explained how he’d point out that if none of that happened, the person was likely just admiring her.
“That’s a compliment, dude! That means your wife is a good-looking wife,” Rutten would say, often resolving the situation right there.
Stay Calm and Observe Hands
Rutten stressed the importance of staying calm while de-escalating a tense situation.
“The screamers, it will never work,” he said. Instead, he advised keeping things calm, avoiding aggressive body language like “fighting stances.”
One of his critical tips was to always be aware of the other person’s hands.
“Always make sure you look at their hands,” Rutten emphasized. “If they put their hands in the pocket or whatever, always expect something.”
Being aware of potential threats allows you to be ready for anything.
Positioning is Key: Back to the Wall
When de-escalation fails, Rutten stressed the importance of positioning.
“I put my back against the wall. If there’s a corner, I’m with my back in the corner because nobody can attack me from the sides,” he explained.
Rutten also added that if the situation becomes dangerous, it’s crucial to stay smart and avoid conflict.
“Don’t fight if they have a knife. Don’t let your ego control yourself. You might die,” he said. “I mean, people do things for no freaking reason, you know. Just simply watch out.”
Knife Worse Than A Gun
Rutten did say that when a weapon is involved, and you can’t get away, speed and strategy are critical.
He explained, “You’re going to have to go fast.” Rutten emphasized that knives are often more dangerous than guns in close combat.
“A knife is much more dangerous. It can cut from every side, especially if it’s double-bladed,” he said, noting that the unpredictable nature of knife attacks makes them highly dangerous.
In contrast, controlling a gun is more manageable once you control the barrel and ensure you’re not in the line of fire.
Rutten also underscored the importance of situational awareness, advising that bystanders or loved ones shouldn’t be in the line of fire during a confrontation.
“Make sure a loved one doesn’t stand on the side, because if he pulls the trigger, that person is going to go,” Rutten warned, stressing that staying alert to the environment can make all the difference in high-risk situations.
Use Distance and Space to Your Advantage
Also, during a street fight, Rutten suggested using space and distance to control the outcome.
“If the fight goes outside, now it’s my domain because now I got space,” he said.
Rutten described how creating distance makes it harder for someone to strike effectively, and using this space can help convince them to back off.
“I could have hit you already,” he would tell aggressors after dodging their strikes, showing them that continuing the fight wasn’t in their best interest.
Fewer Techniques, Better Execution
For those looking to protect themselves, Rutten advised sticking to a few effective techniques rather than trying to learn too many.
“It’s not that difficult to knock somebody out,” he explained, “but make sure you don’t have too many techniques. Just a few techniques and know them very well, and you’re going to be okay.”
Rutten concluded by saying that street fights are unpredictable, but with the right mindset, positioning, and technique, you can often avoid them or handle them safely if necessary.
What did you think about Rutten’s advice? Pretty solid?
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