Bas Rutten

UFC Hall of Famer Bas Rutten said the new guy at the “Inside MMA” desk, Mauro Ranallo, is going to bring a new vibe to the long-running MMA show on AXS TV.

“(AXS TV is) going to realize it’s a different kind of energy, and they’re probably going to build a show around that,” Rutten told MMAjunkie Radio. “So whatever the people enjoy, we’re going to do more of that.”

The partnership reunites Rutten and Ranallo more than a decade after Ranallo joined the commentary team for the now-defunct PRIDE. Earlier this year, the pair also started a combat sports podcast, “Rutten and Ranallo.”

Ranallo steps in for broadcast veteran Kenny Rice, who originated the show with Rutten in 2007.

Rutten said he initially was concerned fans would think now-former co-host Rice was displaced because of his work with Ranallo. But he clarified that Rice’s move to the role of special correspondent was in the works this past fall as the result of a busy 2016 schedule.

“Since Mauro started doing New Japan Pro Wrestling (on AXS TV), they said it would be great if we could get you guys back together,” Rutten said. “So they reached out to Mauro’s people, and they made it happen.”

On the TV show, Rice often acted as a counterbalance to Rutten, playing the straight man to the retired fighter’s crazed energy. It would seem there’s even less holding him back with the inclusion of the high-energy Ranallo, whose colorful commentary was recently added to the WWE’s “Smackdown” in addition to his work with Showtime boxing, which includes the “Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Rutten, though, has confidence Ranallo will adapt well to the needs of “Inside MMA.”

“I think he will automatically tone down a little bit, because he has to,” Rutten said. “But in between, you’re going to have a guy that’s going to go full on against me with things. Because many times, believe it or not, on some things, he has a completely different thought process than I have, which is going to make it very interesting for the people at home.”

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