Absolute Fighter Danny Rushton

 

The AFC is well known as the toughest of all MMA competition. The rules are similar to the original UFC's. That is real Vale Tudo. Bare knuckle, elbows and headbutts allowed. All this in a cage. In Russia. On April 29 in Moscow, Lee Hasdell and Danny Rushton fought in the Absolute Fighting Championship. Lee in the +90kg and Danny in the -90kg event. Danny lost by submission after a 16 minute epic.

Danny facing his opponent in the cage

SFUK caught up with a smiling Danny Rushton after his MMA demo with Lee Hasdell at SENI.

Let's get straight to it.

SFUK : (talking about the AFC) Danny, we heard you were doing really well, but you got cut yeah?

DR : I got cut quite early on to be honest with you. The fight was 16 minutes,I didn't know until afterwards, I thought we'd been up there about five. I was quite shocked. But I went for ages after the cut.

SFUK : Tell us a bit about your opponent.

DR : I can't remember his name, he was mongolian. He was tough. I think mongolian's their national sport is wrestling, so I was expecting him to shoot, so I was very very defensive - and......he was a boxer! (laughs). So, ya know, it took me by surprise a little bit ! But most of the fight we were exchanging boxing, we were toe to toe really. There was no like, running around or anything. We were stood pretty much toe to toe the whole fight.

SFUK : And you didn't want to shoot?

DR: I shot a few times, I screwed up 2 of them hehe but I did a good shoot once out of three. I'd been preparing for Gary Mulla who's from the Abu Dahbi. They changed (the fighter) at the last minute. I was told in the changing room I was fighting Gary and it got changed at the last second. I didn't know anything about this guy. He had on his resume, boxing and 1999 World Pankration Champion. I'm thinking 'OK we'll see what happens' LOL.

SFUK : Would you do another one?

DR : Ooh, yeh, yeh, I'm definitely going back. I'm almost definitely invited back. Bas (Boon), the promoter from Holland, and the other guys watching said it was the best fight of the entire tournament.

SFUK : Cool.

DR : Yeh, it was a nice complement. He said it in front Keith Herring and people like that. Who just fought and got beat in the first round as well. The reason they liked my fight was because it was long. It was bloody. There was a lot of action. In a long fight there's usually at lot of holding, but BANG we were toe to toe. We went to the ground like 3 times in 16 minutes, it was like minute on the floor. It was pretty much all standup. I did some risky stuff. I was very nervous going into the fight. The first time for me with headbutts and elbows - they scared the shit outta me! I really pictured myself coming back all bust up.

SFUK : Was it easier than you thought then?

DR : Yeh, yeh. LOL.

SFUK : So that's why your keen to go back.

DR : Yeh, I may be even going to Aruba as well. That would be nice. That would be the World Vale Tudo event. He didn't say anything for definite but he said he would try to get me on the Aruba and almost definitely be in Kiev at the end of the year.

Danny and Lee Absolute Warriors

SFUK : So, tell us about your training.

DR : I've never really trained with any of the big grapplers, I'm pretty much self taught - a voyage of discovery. LOL.

SFUK : What are your next fights in the UK?

DR : I'll be on the next Ring of Truth. I was supposed to be on the last one, but I had just got back from the fight with Van Der Veen in Holland. To be honest with you, I was injured when I took that, but I thought 'it'll be a trip!' lol. I was actually in physio when I took the call to get the match. I was having my knee seen to. I turned my knee out doing a shoot takedown in december and could hardly walk for a few weeks. I hadn't actually kicked anything, I hadn't done any running, I was 50% fit. I'd done a little bag work and a little sparring, the 2 weeks before the fight I got 5 stitches in my mouth as well, so I could even spar ! LOL.

SFUK : Van Der Veen's pretty awesome.

DR: He's strong. I pretty much whooped him till I ran out of energy. I don't think he landed one shot on me until 8 minutes in. By which point I'd completely gassed. I'd put 3 maybe 4 armbars on him, a heel hook on him..... I heel hooked him that hard my arm was black for a week.

SFUK : He didn't tap?

DR : No, no. On the first armbar I put on him he actually rope escaped, but the dutch refs, they don't take much interest in that. It's in the magazines this month ( M.A.I.), you actually see him holding the rope and I'm hanging off his arm! I could hardly feel my legs after 5 minutes. I was really unfit, very unfit. I was much better for Russia. Normally if I fight I'm aching for a week, this week I've not ached at all! I've done 16 minutes in the AFC - not bothered! LOL.

SFUK : How do you fancy your chances in the Ring of Truth 2?

DR : I'm gonna have fun. Hopefully I'll win it and have another match with James. That'll be a good match won't it? That was a bit contraversal with the cut.

SFUK : Have you heard about Andy Jardine's Iron Man event?

DR: Yeh, I've got a couple of students that'll have ago at that in the under 80kg. I might have a go. I've been thinking about it. I'm hoping to get abroad as much as possible. I'll do the ROT, I'll do the Iron Man. I think Andy's got me scheduled for a fight with Dennis Reid at the end of the year.

SFUK : Do you think the standard of British MMA has gone up?

DR : Definitely. It's hard to guage where we are in the world. Hopefully we be at the top very soon LOL.

SFUK : Well it will it you keep going in all these AFCs!

DR : Hopefully I'll win it next time!

SFUK : The UFC's going be like going to Disneyland after the AFC right? LOL

DR : The UFC's easy compared to the Absolute. That's one of the reasons I took the Absolute. I'm not a very confident fighter. I don't like to fight. I thought 'get this one out of the way and the rest will be easy'. I was nervous for weeks before the Absolute. It's lifted my whole outlook. Coming back now, I feel more confident. At peace with myself. ....Now going into the Ring of Truth I think ' what's the worst that could happen'. Now I may not kick arse in the ROT but I won't be afraid going into it. The next time I go to Russia I'll be able to just chill a little bit. Enjoy it a little bit. I mean I enjoyed it last time. Keith Herring's a right laugh, Remco's good fun, Lee's a good laugh. We partied for 2 days non stop after the fight, and I couldn't wait to party again, I was still buzzin' ! It was fun because the Russian women are all beautiful! LOL.

SFUK : Thanks very much Danny and good luck.

DR : Thank you very much.

 

 

Danny teaches Sport Vale Tudo in Manchester, look out for his club details at the SFUK Club Guide soon.

We spoke to Lee Hasdell on the same day, read his interview here.

 

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