Greatness of Dan Severn Part 1

Ok, this is a long time coming and I figured Easter would be a great day to post it considering I am in a college town and not doing jack shit for the day.

UFC 4 was in a bad position. In the UFC 3 tournament we saw Ken Shamrock bow out of the finale after winning 2 fights then we saw Royce Gracie drop out after the war with Kimo. We ended up getting an alternate, Steve Jennum, beating the always classy Harold Howard.
UFC originally wanted Ken Shamrock, Steve Jennum and Gracie to compete in the 4th UFC tournament but Ken was already contractually obligated to the King of Pancrase Tournament. So the UFC had to scramble to find a credible opponent opposite Gracie in the 4th UFC Tournament. Enter Dan "the Beast" Severn"

An Olympian alternate and world class wrestler (late 80's) Severn brought some good credentials to the UFC. (Surprisingly the most decorated fighter of UFC at that point was probably Christopher Leninger a 2 time Olympian Judokan)

UFC 4 - Dan Severn enters the world of NHB against Anthony "the Mad Dog" Macias, a regular of the Lions Den gym, but not an actual member of the Den. Simply put, Severn introduced the world to the suplex, 3 times, in a row. Macias' line of defense was trying to throw back ward head butts. I really don't know if I have ever seen someone rag dolled like that in under 2 minutes. Dan Severn has his first victory in UFC and NHB/MMA.

Next up in the tournament was Marcus Bossett who was a big man and that as about it. Severn was able to take him down and get Bossetts back and the choke in under a minute. While Severn clearly is not comfortable striking from the top, it is clear he is a mauler that knows submissions.

In the final, Dan was there against 2 time UFC Tournament winner Royce Gracie. What ensued was 16 grueling minutes that largely helped define the legend of Royce Gracie. Ya beating Kimo in the 4 minute war was tough, but Severn was trying to put Gracie through the meat grinder, literally. After staying in Gracies guard for 15 minutes Severn made a huge mistake and postured up way to high, Gracie slapped the legs around Severn and the world was introduced to the Triangle Choke. No one, and I mean no one, saw this happen live, the PPV broadcast went over its allotted time, UFC 4 ended with 4 minutes left in the actual fight. Which as we all know, eded when Gracie submitted Severn. I will never forget that image, Severn, trying to stand up and squirm out of the triangle, tapping the ground with his free hand, pretty amazing.
While it was clear Royce was the legend of the night, another legend had been born himself. This was clearly Gracie's toughest fight and it came from a 36 year old.

UFC 5 - Art Davie was brilliant and saw way into the future and with UFC 5 set up the SuperFight between Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock, with Dan Severn and Oleg Taktarov in the tournament.
Dan faced the tough Oak Cliff fighter, Joe "King of the Ghetto: Charles, who despite the nickname was actually a credible fighter, especially for this era of NHB. Severn still took Charles down instantly and used the cage to maintain position, Charles attempted to reverse and get Severns arm, but gave up his back and was choked out in under 2 minutes.
In the second round of the tournament Dan faced off against Oleg Taktarov in a very bloody match. Severn was able to take Oleg down and control him, while Oleg was active from the bottom he ended up in North/South and Severn began landing big knee after big knee, Olegs head was cut open and Big John actually stepped in and stopped the fight before the 5 minute mark.
In the finals, Severn faced off against alternate Dave Beneteau, the fight followed all of Severns previous fights, start, get the take down, maul you until you give up the submission position. Dan Severn won the UFC 5 tournament with a Keylock.

Dan Severn is 5-1 at this point, he is immediately lined up to face Ken Shamrock at UFC 6 for the SuperFight Title. Severn is heavily favored, most have him as a 4 to 1, but some had the odds 7 to 1 in his favor.

UFC 6 - In the era of no gloves, these two came out and were actually willing to trade, they exchanged several blows before entering a clinch. To the surprise of everyone, Shamrock was able to maintain balance and move around the ring while in the clinch before landing a knee to the solar plexus and separating. The two clashed together again in the center of the octagon, both attempted nasty standing guillotines virtually simultaneously, Shamrock popped his head out, and Severn attempted to drive with a double leg. Severn drove Shamrock into the fence where Shamrock secured the standing guillotine. Severn, caught, delivered a fierce low blow (they were legal) drops to the mat and taps. The fight is over in 2 minutes.

Severn took several months off after UFC 6 and focused on his submission and stand up, notably with a young protege named Don Frye. Severn answers the challenge of the Ultimate Ultimate 95 (a stacked beyond belief tournament) in December of 1995.

Ultimate Ultimate 95 - In the first round of this stacked tournament, Dan face off against Paul Varelans, while Paul was always tough, he was not up to the challenge of a fighter like Severn. Severn got the take down and an arm triangle in under 2 minutes.
In the second round Severn faced off against Tank Abbott in what was sure to be a brawl for the ages. What we got, was a surprisingly slow paced fight where Tank Abbot tried to match striking and wrestling with Severns wrestling. Severn clearly outworked Abbot and won the Unanimous Decision after 18 strenuous minutes.
In the finals, Severn was facing off against Oleg Taktarov for the title.You have to realize, Severn had just gone 18 minutes with Abbot. Taktarov had just gone 18 minutes with Marco Ruas. Both had already fought twice that night. This was not going to be pretty.
Somehow, these two managed to compete for 30 minutes. The fight was closely contested and both fighters had their moments. Oleg was better with the stand up and threatened with submissions (with his eyes closed) but Severn controlled where the fight was fought and won a Unanimous Decision to win the Ultimate Ultimate 1995.

It is the end of 1995, Dan Severn has been fighting for 1 year, he is 8-2, and has won the UFC 5 and Ultimate Ultimate 1995 titles. Severn is now the challenger for Shamrock's SuperFight Title because he won the Ultimate Ultimate. May of 1996 the two will face off in what is widely regarded as one of the most boring fights ever.

UFC 9 - the backstory to UFC 9 is so old and long and played out (at least by me) that I assume you know what happened, Day before the show, Detroit passes a law making it illegal for the main event to feature punches, shooting for a take down is also outlawed. They were allowed to grapple though. What took place was Ken Shamrock standing in the middle of the ring slapping at the air while Dan Severn just circles, and circles, and circles, and circles. Finally, like 20 minutes into the fight, Severn and Shamrock get in a clinch that leads to a Severn takedown, Severn lands several blows and is on top for several minutes, Ken eventually reverses positions and gets into full mount, he does nothing with it and the fight ends after 30 minutes to a chorus of boos and chants of "lets go Red Wings". Severn wins the decision and in my opinion won because even though they both did nothing and Ken had better position, Severn was on top longer, I think thats what won him the celebrity judges vote (seriously can't remember what basketball player judged the fight).

This is where things get interesting, the UFC is making good money but John McCain is leading a crusade against NHB at the time (UFC 9 is obvious example) Severn ventured out of the UFC and fought 5 fights outside the UFC to end 1996, Severn won 4 of these fights by submission but his fight against Mario Neto went 40 minutes under the Vale Tudo banner.

It is 1997, Dan Severn is the UFC SuperFight Champion, UFC 5 Tournament winner, Ultimate Ultimate 1995 TItle Winner,he is 14-2 with 9 wins via submission, is 9-2 in UFC and 2-0 in Vale Tudo. His two losses came against Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock (which he avenged). Severn is set to face Mark Coleman at UFC 12 in Feb. of 1997.

UFC 12 - at UFC 12, the original dominant wrestler of the UFC faced off against the new breed of wrestler, Coleman (unlike Severn) did not work for submissions on the ground, he went for the brutal stoppage via smash and bash ground and pound. Simply put, while Severns wrestling is still top level and good enough to beat most grapplers, Mark Coleman was way to powerful of a wrestler for a 38 year old Dan Severn. The fight started with both circling each other and sizing each other up before Coleman shot for and got the takedown. from Severns half guard, Coleman quickly transitioned into side control. Coleman shocked everyone after he peppered up Severn with punches and transitioned into a can opener neck crank. Coleman was the winner in under 3 minutes.

Over the next 3 years Severn would fight in various promotions all over the world posting a 21-0-3 record. While his competition level had dropped off, he was still fighting some well known fighters. In June of 1997 Severn fought to a 20 minute draw with Jeremy Horn, later in 1997 Severn submitted Paul Buentello with a HEADLOCK haha. Then it happened. October 11, 1997 Pride was born.

Pride 1 - the fight that was used to draw american viewers to Pride was Dan Severn vs Kimo, while it was an ok fight, t was pretty boring honestly. A lot of circling mixed in with some takedown attempts and leg kicks from Kimo. After 30 minutes the fight was determined a draw. Severn had to pull out of his UFC title fight with Maurice Smith because his legs were swollen and the Smith fight was a week away.

Severn began 1998 by submitting Travis Fulton and then fighting a 20 minute draw against Pat Miletich, Severn won 9 more fights from 1998 and 1999. It is Feb. 2000, Dan Severn is on a 24 fight win streak (21-0-3). It has been 3 years to the day since he has lost a fight. Severn's record is 35-3-3.

SuperBrawl 16 - Dan Severn is facing the Babyfaced Assassin Josh Barnett for the SuperBrawl Title and in a brawl that featured Severn scoring multiple takedowns and Barnet landing punches and threatening with submissions. THe fight went to the 4th round and was surprisingly busy for a Severn fight. In the 4th Barnett was able to secure an arm bar and make Severn tap.

Severn fights 6 more fights and wins four by submission, one by too and one decision. THe impressive win in this streak was that Severn was able to submit Marcus Silveira via arm triangle choke. Then they come calling, actually more like they come up with the money. But either way, it is Sep. 22, 2000 its been over 3 years since Severn last fought in the UFC. Severn is 41-4-3 with 26 submissions including 1 via headlock and 1 via jaw lock.

UFC 27 - The Beast returns to the octagon but unfortunately he was facing Pedro Rizzo. The fight pretty much consists of the feeling out process and then Rizzo landing one of the nastiest leg kicks I have ever seen, he nails Severn right on the heavily padded knee and it is clear Severn is done before he is even able to fall over in clear agony. This is the last time that Dan Severn fought in the UFC, but his career was far from over. However, this post is. Part 2 will be up by tomorrow.

Very good...about time The Beast got his own thread. Mr. 100. Fuck the haters.

+1

It was talked about and requested for years. And now it's here. BAM!!!

I love the Beast! I was and still am hoping he gets a send off fight from the UFC.