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Dan "The Beast" Severn (born June 8, 1958 in Coldwater, Michigan) is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has also fought for many NHB and shootwrestling organizations including International Fighting Championship, Extreme Challenge, Future Brawl, United Shoot Wrestling Federation, PRIDE, U-Japan, King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge and a number of Brazilian organizations.
Biography
Wrestling
Severn has a long history in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling. He was a four time All-American at Arizona State, a member of the Sunkist Kids elite team, and a wrestling coach at both his alma mater Arizona State and Michigan State. He has wrestled in Turkey, Japan, Cuba, Hungary, Canada and France as well as the USA. In his long career, he has held many national and international titles; he was often introduced to the UFC Octagon as holding more than 70 in total. Severn also held the US national record for victories by pin from 1976 to 1992, his 112 eventually overtaken by the 114 of Matt Padgett.
Mixed Martial Arts
Severn was the first world-class wrestler to enter the UFC, becoming indicative of the ensuing period of dominance by wrestlers continued by men like Don Frye in UFC 8 and 9 and Mark Coleman in UFC 10 and 11. Severn entered the UFC in 1995 at UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors, where he captured the hearts of many UFC fans by executing two impressive back suplexes on Anthony Macias. In the finals of UFC 4, Severn was defeated by Royce Gracie, who used a triangle choke hold, but only after the much bigger Severn dominated in Gracie's guard for around 15 minutes, lacking the striking experience to finish his opponent. Severn rectified this loss when he captured the championship in UFC 5: Return of the Beast, defeating Dave Beneteau in the finals. Severn went on to win Ultimate Ultimate '95, a tournament of UFC champions defeating Oleg Taktarov. He also managed his friend and fellow champion, Don Frye, during UFC 8, and would later train the successful female competitor, Becky Levi. His first and only fight in PRIDE was a lackluster draw against Kimo in 1997; since then, he has continued to compete in a variety of MMA promotions, such as King of the Cage, the UFC, the British Ultimate Combat and Gladiator Challenge among others. In 1999, Severn and Levi founded a new mixed martial arts promotion intended to provide a platform for amateur fighters, called The Danger Zone, in which Severn also took part. He is also known for being able to hold Royce Gracie down for seventeen minutes.
Professional wrestling
Severn is an accomplished professional wrestler, having worked for UWF International in Japan, the National Wrestling Alliance and the World Wrestling Federation. He entered the NWA in 1995, and defeated Chris Candido for his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship on a Smokey Mountain Wrestling card. Severn would go on to win the UFC championship that year, making him the first and only man to hold the NWA and UFC championships simultaneously. During his short stint in the WWF, he competed in the Brawl For All tournament, beating The Godfather in the first round. However, he withdrew prior to the quarterfinals, allowing The Godfather to advance by default. He appeared in 2000 in the short-lived WXO promotion. Severn would not again hold professional wrestling gold until 2001, when he again won the NWA championship, this time from Shinya Hashimoto. This title reign would be controversial (an American referee in a Japanese promotion issuing a fast count), and short-lived, as the title was stripped from Severn when he was unable to appear on the inaugural TNA pay-per-view to defend his title; the belt was won that evening by Severn's long-time rival, Ken Shamrock.
Severn now is the president of the successful Price of Glory Wrestling held out of his training facility in Coldwater, Michigan. POG Wrestling is known for breeding some of the top talent performing in the Midwest today including Jack Thriller, Johnny Dynamo, CJ Otis, Rastakhan, BAM, JT Zorin, and more. Severn also wrestles for the promotion on occasion. His most notable feud in POG Wrestling has been with Jimmy Jacobs.
Writing
Severn writes a regular e-newsletter to members of his website, and is a columnist for FIGHTING SPIRIT magazine.
A sign up to his newsletter is avaliable on his official website www.dansevern.com. The website also holds a bio, merchandise, his promtions and much more.
Finishing and signature moves
- Beast Choker (Dragon sleeper with body scissors)
- Armbar
- Belly-to-belly suplex
Championships and accomplishments
- Arizona State University wrestling Hall of Famer
- 1980 Summer Olympic team alternate
- 13 National AAU wrestling championships from 1982 to 1994
- 1984 Summer Olympic team alternate
- 1985 Canada Cup Gold Medalist
- Continental Freefighting Alliance
- 1-time CFA Super Heavyweight Champion (current)
- Undefeated in Danger Zone single bout competition
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC 5 Champion
- UFC Ultimate Ultimate '95 Champion
- UFC 9 Superfight Champion (defeating Ken Shamrock in Michigan)
- UFC Hall of Famer
- World Extreme Cagefighting
- 1-time WEC Super Heavyweight Champion
- National Wrestling Alliance
- 2-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion
MMA record
|-
| align="center" colspan=8|71 Wins (13 KO's, 41 sub), 11 Losses , 7 Draws
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Result
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Opponent
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Method
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Event
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Date
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Round, Time
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #f0f0f0"|Notes
|-
| Win ||Robert Berry ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||GR 16-Goshin Ryu 15 ||6/3/2006 ||1 4:21
|-
| Win ||Victor Vincelette ||Submission (Strikes) ||WFC-Rumble in the Rockies ||1/21/2006 ||1 1:22
|-
| Loss ||Joop Kasteel ||KO ||RINGS Holland-Men of Honor ||12/11/2005 ||1
|-
| Loss ||Victor Valimaki ||Decision (Unanimous) ||MFC 8-Resurrection ||9/9/2005 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Rick Collup ||Submission (Knees) ||GC 39-Titans Collide ||7/17/2005 ||2
|-
| Win ||Shannon Ritch ||Submission (Choke) ||Extreme Wars-X-1 ||7/2/2005 ||2
|-
| Win ||Shannon Ritch ||Submission (Keylock) ||NFC-Northern Fighting Championships ||6/3/2005 ||2
|-
| Win ||Cal Worsham ||TKO (Injury) ||GC 34-Legends Collide ||1/27/2005 ||3
|-
| Win ||Lee Mein ||TKO ||CFC-Continental Fighting Championships ||11/20/2004 ||2 1:41
|-
| Loss ||James Thompson ||Decision (Unanimous) ||UC 11-Wrath of the Beast ||9/12/2004 ||5 5:00
|-
| Win ||Chad Rafdel ||TKO (Corner Stoppage) ||AFA-Beast ||7/31/2004 ||1
|-
| Win ||Hidetada Irie ||Decision (Unanimous) ||Gladiator FC-Day 1 ||6/26/2004 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Ruben Villareal ||Decision (Split) ||GC 27-FightFest 2 ||6/3/2004 ||2 5:00
|-
| Win ||Greg Lockhart ||Submission ||Dangerzone-Cage Fighting ||4/10/2004 ||2 1:45
|-
| Win ||Johnathan Ivey ||Decision (Unanimous) ||HFC 3-Hardcore Fighting Championships 3 ||3/27/2004 ||N/A
|-
| Loss ||Tony Bonello ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||XFC 4-Australia vs The World ||3/19/2004 ||1 1:36
|-
| Loss ||Ulysses Castro ||Submission (Verbal) ||ETB-Enter the Beast ||3/6/2004 ||3 2:45
|-
| Draw ||Jerry Vrbanovic ||Draw ||KOTC 33-After Shock ||2/20/2004 ||2 5:00
|-
| Loss ||Seth Petruzelli ||Decision (Unanimous) ||KOTC 32-Bringing Heat ||1/24/2004 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Ray Seraille ||Submission (Armbar) ||PXC 1-Pacific X-Treme Combat ||1/17/2004 ||3
|-
| Win ||Mathias Hughes ||Submission ||SB-Seasons Beatings ||12/18/2003 ||1 2:40
|-
| Draw ||Homer Moore ||Draw ||RITC 54-'The Beast' vs 'The Rock' ||10/25/2003 ||3 3:00
|-
| Win ||Gary Dudley ||TKO (Strikes) ||GC 18-Gladiator Challenge 18 ||8/21/2003 ||1 2:08
|-
| Win ||Dan Christison ||Decision (Split) ||KOTC 24-Mayhem ||6/14/2003 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Shane Moore ||Submission ||HFC 1-Hardcore Fighting Championships 1 ||5/24/2003 ||2
|-
| Win ||Cory Timmerman ||Decision (Unanimous) ||KOTC 23-Sin City ||5/16/2003 ||3 5:00
|-
| Loss ||Ulysses Castro ||Decision ||MFC 6-Road To Gold ||2/22/2003 ||3 5:00
|-
| Draw ||Pat Stano ||Draw ||WATS-War at the Shore ||1/17/2003 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Mike Ward ||Submission ||UC 4-Eyes of the Beast ||12/1/2002 ||3 1:42
|-
| Win ||Justin Eilers ||Decision (Unanimous) ||VFC 3-Total Chaos ||11/23/2002 ||N/A
|-
| Win ||Mark Smith ||Submission (Keylock) ||KOTC 18-Sudden Impact ||11/1/2002 ||1 2:56
|-
| Win ||Dan Christison ||Decision ||AC 1-Aztec Challenge 1 ||9/6/2002 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||John Jensen ||TKO (Towel) ||KOTC 14-New Mexico ||6/19/2002 ||1 5:00
|-
| Win ||Steve Sayegh ||Submission (Strikes) ||Dangerzone-Caged Heat ||4/13/2002 ||1 5:45
|-
| Win ||Forrest Griffin ||Decision ||RSF 5-New Blood Conflict ||10/27/2001 ||3 4:00
|-
| Draw ||Travis Fulton ||Draw ||IC 3-Iowa Challenge 3 ||9/22/2001 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Lenn Walker ||Submission (Strikes) ||UW-St. Paul ||7/15/2001 ||1 1:49
|-
| Win ||Travis Fulton ||Decision ||WEC 1-Princes of Pain ||6/30/2001 ||3 5:00
|-
| Win ||Wes Sims ||Decision ||RSF 2-Attack at the Track ||6/23/2001 ||3 4:00
|-
| Win ||Harry Moskowitz ||Submission (Keylock) ||RCF 11-Reality Combat Fighting 11 ||5/10/2001 ||N/A
|-
| Loss ||Jonathan Wiezorek ||Submission (Choke) ||RSF 1-Redemption in the Valley ||4/21/2001 ||2 1:03
|-
| Win ||Aaron Keeney ||Submission (Keylock) ||Dangerzone-Insane In Ft. Wayne ||11/25/2000 ||1 2:03
|-
| Win ||Travis Fulton ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||Dangerzone-Night of the Beast ||10/28/2000 ||1 2:01
|-
| Loss ||Pedro Rizzo ||Submission (Strikes) ||UFC 27-Ultimate Bad Boyz ||9/22/2000 ||1 1:33
|-
| Win ||Andrei Kopylov ||Decision (Unanimous) ||Rings-Millennium Combine 3 ||8/23/2000 ||2 5:00
|-
| Win ||John Dixon ||Submission (Keylock) ||CFA 2-Continental Freefighting Alliance 2 ||7/19/2000 ||1 5:18
|-
| Win ||Ron Rumpf ||Submission (Keylock) ||Dangerzone-Battle At The Bear ||7/8/2000 ||1 0:54
|-
| Win ||Robert Stines ||Submission (Neck Crank) ||Dangerzone-Ft. Wayne 2 ||5/20/2000 ||1 0:44
|-
| Win ||Marcus Silveira ||Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) ||WEF 9-World Class ||5/13/2000 ||1 4:46
|-
| Win ||Bart Vale ||TKO (Doctor) ||CFA 1-Collision at the Crossroads ||3/25/2000 ||2 0:36
|-
| Loss ||Josh Barnett ||Submission (Armbar) ||SB 16-SuperBrawl 16 ||2/8/2000 ||4 1:21
|-
| Win ||Mark Jaquith ||Decision ||Dangerzone-Ft. Wayne ||11/22/1999 ||1 15:00
|-
| Win ||Phil Ortiz ||Submission (Keylock) ||EC 28-Extreme Challenge 28 ||10/9/1999 ||1 1:55
|-
| Win ||David Ferguson ||Submission (Strikes) ||Dangerzone-Ft. Smith ||9/18/1999 ||1 8:36
|-
| Win ||Brad Kohler ||TKO ||UW-Ultimate Wrestling ||6/25/1999 ||1 7:57
|-
| Win ||Slade Martin ||Submission (Keylock) ||Dangerzone-Mahnomen ||6/19/1999 ||1 3:30
|-
| Win ||Kevin Rosier ||Submission ||CC 1-Cage Combat 1 ||12/8/1998 ||1
|-
| Win ||Joe Frailey ||Submission (Armbar) ||SB 9-SuperBrawl 9 ||9/19/1998 ||1 4:02
|-
| Draw ||Pat Miletich ||Draw ||EC 20-Extreme Challenge 20 ||8/22/1998 ||1 20:00
|-
| Win ||Chris Franco ||TKO (Cut) ||SB 8-SuperBrawl 8 ||8/4/1998 ||1 4:55
|-
| Win ||Sam Adkins ||Submission ||IFC 8-Showdown at Shooting Star ||6/20/1998 ||1 12:57
|-
| Win ||Steve Miller ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||WSW-World Shoot Wrestling ||6/12/1998 ||1 5:45
|-
| Win ||John Calvo ||TKO (Punches) ||SB 7-SuperBrawl 7 ||4/25/1998 ||1 3:38
|-
| Win ||Travis Fulton ||Submission (Keylock) ||Gladiators-Gladiators 2 ||4/18/1998 ||1 10:39
|-
| Win ||Kevin Rosier ||TKO ||EC 15-Extreme Challenge 15 ||2/27/1998 ||1 0:53
|-
| Draw ||Kimo Leopoldo ||Draw ||PRIDE 1-PRIDE 1 ||10/11/1997 ||1 30:00
|-
| Win ||John Renfroe ||Submission (Keylock) ||IFC 6-Battle at Four Bears ||9/20/1997 ||1 2:28
|-
| Win ||John Dixon ||Submission (Strikes) ||IFC 5-Battle in the Bayou ||9/5/1997 ||1 2:33
|-
| Win ||Lance Gibson ||Submission (Keylock) ||SB 5-SuperBrawl 5 ||8/23/1997 ||1 26:22
|-
| Win ||Ebenezer Fontes Braga ||TKO (Cut) ||IVC 1-Real Fight Tournament ||7/6/1997 ||1 8:17
|-
| Draw ||Jeremy Horn ||Draw ||EC 7-Extreme Challenge 7 ||6/25/1997 ||1 20:00
|-
| Win ||John Renfroe ||TKO ||EC 6-Extreme Challenge 6 ||5/10/1997 ||1 2:29
|-
| Loss ||Mark Coleman ||Submission (Choke) ||UFC 12-Judgement Day ||2/7/1997 ||1 2:57
|-
| Win ||Steven Goss ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||EC 1-Extreme Challenge 1 ||11/23/1996 ||1 1:53
|-
| Win ||Mitsuhiro Matsunaga ||Submission (Armlock) ||U-Japan ||11/17/1996 ||1 1:32
|-
| Win ||Mario Neto ||Decision ||UVF 4-Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4 ||10/22/1996 ||1 40:00
|-
| Win ||Dennis Reed ||Submission (Neck Crank) ||BATB 1-Brawl at the Ballpark 1 ||9/1/1996 ||1 4:10
|-
| Win ||Doug Murphy ||Submission (Keylock) ||VTJ 1996-Vale Tudo Japan 1996 ||7/7/1996 ||1 3:23
|-
| Win ||Ken Shamrock ||Decision ||UFC 9-Motor City Madness ||5/17/1996 ||1 30:00
|-
| Win ||Oleg Taktarov ||Decision ||UU 95-Ultimate Utlimate 1995 ||12/16/1995 ||1 30:00
|-
| Win ||David L. Abbott ||Decision (Unanimous) ||UU 95-Ultimate Utlimate 1995 ||12/16/1995 ||1 18:00
|-
| Win ||Paul Varelans ||Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) ||UU 95-Ultimate Utlimate 1995 ||12/16/1995 ||1 1:40
|-
| Loss ||Ken Shamrock ||Submission (Guillotine Choke) ||UFC 6-Clash of the Titans ||7/14/1995 ||1 2:14
|-
| Win ||Dave Beneteau ||Submission (Keylock) ||UFC 5-The Return of the Beast ||4/7/1995 ||1 3:01
|-
| Win ||Oleg Taktarov ||TKO (Cut) ||UFC 5-The Return of the Beast ||4/7/1995 ||1 4:21
|-
| Win ||Joe Charles ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||UFC 5-The Return of the Beast ||4/7/1995 ||1 1:38
|-
| Loss ||Royce Gracie ||Submission (Triangle Choke) ||UFC 4-Revenge of the Warriors ||12/16/1994 ||1 15:49
|-
| Win ||Marcus Bossett ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||UFC 4-Revenge of the Warriors ||12/16/1994 ||1 0:52
|-
| Win ||Anthony Macias ||Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ||UFC 4-Revenge of the Warriors ||12/16/1994 ||1 1:45
|-
Footnotes
1. 'Mat Stars Open Quest Of Olympics', The Sunday Oklahoman, 18 March 1984
2. 'Canadian wrestlers third, Cubans grapple to victory', Stephen McHale, The Globe and Mail, 25 November 1985
3. 'OC comes up empty', Lee Scheide, The Orange County Register, 8 March 1992
See also
- List of male mixed martial artists
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Mixed martial arts
External links
fr:Dan Severn
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify the biographical information on this page under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
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