Dan Severn
Born	(1958-06-08) June 8, 1958 (age 66) Coldwater, Michigan, United States
Other names	The Beast
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	250 lb (110 kg; 18 st)
Division	265
Style	Wrestling, Greco-Roman, Sambo, Freestyle
Fighting out of	Coldwater, Michigan
Rank	NCAA Division I Wrestling
Mixed martial arts record
Total	116
Wins	93
By knockout	15
By submission	57
Losses	16
Draws	7
Other information
University	Arizona State University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Daniel DeWayne Severn (born June 8, 1958) is an American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, notable for his success in the early years of Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments. Severn has fought and wrestled for many mixed martial arts and professional wrestling promotions, including King of the Cage, PRIDE FC, Cage Rage, WEC, RINGS, the World Wrestling Federation and TNA Wrestling. He holds a professional MMA Record of 93–16–7. In professional wrestling Severn is a two-time world champion, having won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship twice. Severn is one of only a few professional fighters to eclipse the 100 career fight mark. He is also now featured as a Playstation 3 exclusive fighter for UFC Undisputed 2010 even though he has not competed in the UFC for over 9 years.

Severn has a long history in Greco-Roman and freestyle judo-hensho wrestling. He was a four time All-American at Arizona State University, the original Sunkist Kid of the Sunkist Kids^[1], 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 U.S.A..

Severn failed to win in Olympic trials in 1984 and 1988 (he was a finalist in the trials). In his long career, he has held many national and international titles. He was often introduced to the UFC Octagon as holding more than 100 in total. Severn also held the US national record for victories by pin from 1976 to 1992.

Severn was the first world-class wrestler to enter the UFC, foreshadowing the period of dominance by wrestlers such as Don Frye in UFC 8 and 9 and Mark Coleman in UFC 10 and 11. Severn entered the UFC in 1994 at UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors, where he captured the hearts of many UFC fans by executing two impressive back suplexs on Anthony Macias. In the finals of UFC 4, Severn was defeated by Royce Gracie who secured a triangle choke for the victory. The submission loss came after Severn was in Gracie's guard for almost 15 minutes.

He soon roared back into mixed martial arts competition, dominating his opponents to capture the tournament championship at UFC 5: Return of the Beast. Severn's first fight with Russian Oleg Taktarov at UFC 5 was what many think his greatest performance ever. He pounded Taktarov that night, opening huge cuts on both Oleg's face & the back of the head (back of the head shots were legal then in the UFC) displaying some of the most brutal ground & pound using knees ever seen. He won by TKO after the referee stopped the fight due to a cut.

After dominating UFC 5, Severn was matched up with Ken Shamrock at UFC 6 to determine the first UFC Superfight Champion, but was defeated by Shamrock early in the fight via submission.

Severn went on to win Ultimate Ultimate 1995, a tournament consisting of UFC champions and runners up. Here Severn defeated Paul Varelans, David "Tank" Abbott, and Oleg Taktarov in a single night. He was also victorious over Ken Shamrock at UFC 9 to become the UFC Superfight Champion, his third title win for the promotion.

Severn managed his friend and fellow UFC champion Don Frye during UFC 8. In 1999, Severn founded a new mixed martial arts promotion intended to provide a platform for amateur fighters, called The Danger Zone, in which Severn has also fought. Severn has also trained and became a mentor to notable mixed martial artists including former UFC light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and The Ultimate Fighter competitor Luke Zachrich.

Dan was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at UFC 52.

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 National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1995, and defeated Chris Candido for his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship on a Smoky Mountain Wrestling card. Severn would go on to win the UFC championship that year, making him the first and only man to hold an MMA and a professional wrestling championship simultaneously. Severn would go on to hold the NWA Championship for four years, the longest reign in over two decades and currently the third-longest reign in the belt's history.

As NWA champion, Severn appeared in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during a storyline where the NWA invaded the WWF. During his one year tenure, 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 would also take part in the 1998 King of the Ring tournament, only to lose to The Rock in the Semi-Finals. Later that year he was involved in a storyline with Owen Hart, where he (Owen), caused an injury to the neck of Severn, via a piledriver. He was part of the 1999 Royal Rumble being the 8th entrant lasting almost 6 minutes before being eliminated by Mabel.

Severn appeared in 2000 in the short-lived WXO promotion. In 2001, he again won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, this time from Shinya Hashimoto in Japan. 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 NWA-TNA pay-per-view to defend his title; the belt was won that evening by Severn's long-time rival, Ken Shamrock.

Severn was the original president of Price of Glory Wrestling, held out of his training facility in Coldwater, Michigan. In mid 2007, there were some unresolved issues that led Severn to no longer own Price of Glory Wrestling.^{[citation needed]} It seems that Mark Pennington is now the owner and booker of the popular promotion that is still running in Severn's training facility Michigan Sports Camps. Severn has also wrestled for the promotion, having notable feuds with Jimmy Jacobs, N8 Mattson, C.J. Otis, and Keith "Shamrock" Creme (as Ken Shamrocks long lost half brother). Severn most recently defeated Johnny Dynamo in a "Retirement Match" to take the promotions Heavyweight title.

Severn has a son named David,who is a two-time state wrestling champion at Bronson High School.^[1]

• Finishing moves
  • Armbar
  • Beast Choker (Dragon sleeper with body scissors)

• Signature moves
  • Back to belly piledriver, sometimes transitioned into an armbar
  • Belly to belly suplex
  • Guillotine choke
  • Heel hook
  • Key lock
  • Rear naked choke

• Manager
  • Jim Cornette^[2]

• 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 ^[2]
• 1988 Summer Olympic team alternate

• Continental Freefighting Alliance
  • CFA Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)

• Gladiator Challenge
  • Gladiator Challenge Superfight Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)

• The Danger Zone
  • Undefeated in Danger Zone single bout competition

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC 5 Tournament Winner
  • UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1995 Tournament Winner
  • UFC Superfight Championship
  • UFC 4 Tournament Runner Up
  • UFC Hall of Fame

• Price of Glory Wrestling
  • PoG Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Other honoree (1998)

• Global Wrestling Alliance
  • GWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship *NWA UK Hammerlock
  • NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round, Time	Notes
Win	93–16–7	Sam Flood	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	KOTC – Fearless	2010-04-24	1 4:24
Win	92–16–7	Buddie Dixion	TKO (Punches)	KOTC – Thunderstruck ll	2010-03-18	2 2:22
Win	91–16–7	Woody Young	Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)	KOTC – Disputed	2009-07-25	2 2:31
Win	90–16–7	Steve Eakins	Decision (Unanimous)	Gladiator Challenge – The Beast	2009-05-16	3 5:00
Loss	89–16–7	William Richey	Decision (Unanimous)	Iroquois – MMA Championships 7	2009-01-24	3 5:00
Loss	89–15–7	Pavel Botka	Decision	Heaven or Hell – Hell Cage	2008-05-03	N/A
Win	89–14–7	Damon Clark	Submission )	WFC – Armageddon	2008-04-12	2
Win	88–14–7	Colin Robinson	Decision (Unanimous)	Cage Wars – Max Extreme fighting	2008-03-09	3
Win	87–14–7	Ian Asham	Submission (Kimura)	Iroquois – MMA Championships II	2008-02-09
Win	86–14–7	Don Richard	Decision (Unanimous)	KOTC – Bad Boys	2007-11-21	3 5:00
Win	85–14–7	Jimmy Westfall	Decision (Unanimous)	UFP – Universal Fight promotions	2007-10-13	3 5:00
Win	84–14–7	Mark Smith	TKO (Corner Stoppage)	TOTP – Titans of the Pentagon	2007-9-22	1
Win	83–14–7	Victor Vincelette	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	WFC – Rumble in the Red Rocks	2007-06-09	1 1:35
Win	82–14–7	Terrell Pree	Submission (Armbar)	WVF – Minot	2007-04-21	1 4:18
Win	81–14–7	Jason Keith	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	GC 60 – Invasion	2007-03-23	1 2:36
Win	80–14–7	Kasey Geyer	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Wind Rumble	2007-02-24	2 1:25
Win	79–14–7	Clifford Coon	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	CCCF – Red River Riot	2007-02-17	1 1:53
Loss	78–14–7	Dave Legeno	Decision (Unanimous)	CR 20 – Born 2 Fight	2007-02-10	3 5:00
Win	78–13–7	Wade Hamilton	Submission (Keylock)	KOTC – Mass Destruction	2007-01-26	1 3:08
Win	77–13–7	Chris Clark	Submission (Heel Hook)	IFC – Rumble on the River 2	2006-11-10	1 3:08
Win	76–13–7	Brian Heden	Decision (Majority)	NFA – Night of the Beast	2006-09-23	N/A
Win	75–13–7	Skip Hall	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	IE – Independent Event	2006-08-26	1
Win	74–13–7	Lanny Griffin	Submission (Scarf Hold)	Indiana Martial Arts	2006-08-12	1 0:46
Win	73–13–7	Robert Berry	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Goshin Ryu 16	2006-06-03	1 4:21
Win	72–13–7	Victor Vincelette	Submission (Strikes)	WFC – Rumble in the Rockies	2006-01-21	1 1:22
Loss	71–13–7	Joop Kasteel	KO (Punch)	RINGS Holland – Men of Honor	2005-12-11	1 1:28
Win	71–12–7	Tyson Smith	Submission (Strikes)	AWE – Action Wrestling Entertainment	2005-10-05	1 4:12
Loss	70–12–7	Victor Valimaki	Decision (Unanimous)	MFC 8 – Resurrection	2005-09-09	3 5:00
Win	70–11–7	Rick Collup	Submission (Knees)	GC 39 – Titans Collide	2005-07-17	2
Win	69–11–7	Shannon Ritch	Submission (Triangle Choke)	Extreme Wars-X-1	2005-07-02	2
Win	68–11–7	Shannon Ritch	Submission (Keylock)	NFC-Northern Fighting Championships	2005-06-03	2
Win	67–11–7	Cal Worsham	TKO (Injury)	GC 34 – Legends Collide	2005-01-27	3
Win	66–11–7	Lee Mein	TKO	CFC – Continental Fighting Championships	2004-11-20	2 1:41
Loss	65–11–7	James Thompson	Decision (Unanimous)	UC 11-Wrath of the Beast	2004-09-12	5 5:00
Win	65–10–7	Chad Rafdel	TKO (Corner Stoppage)	AFA – Beast	2004-07-31	1
Win	64–10–7	Hidetada Irie	Decision (Unanimous)	Gladiator FC – Day 1	2004-06-26	3 5:00
Win	63–10–7	Ruben Villareal	Decision (Split)	GC 27 – FightFest 2	2004-06-03	2 5:00
Win	62–10–7	Greg Lockhart	Submission	Dangerzone – Cage Fighting	2004-04-10	2 1:45
Win	61–10–7	Johnathan Ivey	Decision (Unanimous)	HFC 3 – Hardcore Fighting Championships 3	2004-03-27	N/A
Loss	60–10–7	Tony Bonello	Submission (Rear naked choke)	XFC 4 – Australia vs The World	2004-03-19	1 1:36
Loss	60–9–7	Ulysses Castro	Submission (Verbal)	ETB – Enter the Beast	2004-03-06	3 2:45
Draw	60–8–7	Jerry Vrbanovic	Draw	KOTC 33 – After Shock	2004-02-20	2 5:00
Loss	60–8–6	Seth Petruzelli	Decision (Unanimous)	KOTC 32 – Bringing Heat	2004-01-24	3 5:00
Win	60–7–6	Ray Seraille	Submission (Armbar)	PXC 1 – Pacific X-Treme Combat	2004-01-17	3
Win	59–7–6	Mathias Hughes	Submission	SB – Seasons Beatings	2003-12-18	1 2:40
Draw	58–7–6	Homer Moore	Draw	RITC 54 – 'The Beast' vs 'The Rock'	2003-10-25	3 3:00
Win	58–7–5	Gary Dudley	TKO (Strikes)	GC 18 – Gladiator Challenge 18	2003-08-21	1 2:08
Win	57–7–5	Dan Christison	Decision (Split)	KOTC 24 – Mayhem	2003-06-14	3 5:00
Win	56–7–5	Shane Moore	Submission	HFC 1 – Hardcore Fighting Championships 1	2003-05-24	2
Win	55–7–5	Cory Timmerman	Decision (Unanimous)	KOTC 23 – Sin City	2003-05-16	3 5:00
Loss	54–7–5	Ulysses Castro	Decision	MFC 6 – Road To Gold	2003-02-22	3 5:00
Draw	54–6–5	Pat Stano	Draw	WATS – War at the Shore	2003-01-17	3 5:00
Win	54–6–4	Mike Ward	Submission (Bulldog Choke)	UC 4 – Eyes of the Beast	2002-12-01	3 1:42
Win	53–6–4	Justin Eilers	Decision (Unanimous)	VFC 3 – Total Chaos	2002-11-23	N/A
Win	52–6–4	Mark Smith	Submission (Keylock)	KOTC 18 – Sudden Impact	2002-11-01	1 2:56
Win	51–6–4	Dan Christison	Decision	Aztec Challenge 1	2002-09-06	3 5:00
Win	50–6–4	John Jensen	TKO (Towel)	KOTC: New Mexico	2002-06-19	1 5:00
Win	49–6–4	Steve Sayegh	Submission (Strikes)	Dangerzone – Caged Heat	2002-04-13	1 5:45
Win	48–6–4	Forrest Griffin	Decision	RSF 5: New Blood Conflict	2001-10-27	3 4:00
Draw	47–6–4	Travis Fulton	Draw	Iowa Challenge 3	2001-09-22	3 5:00
Win	47–6–3	Lenn Walker	Submission (Strikes)	UW – St. Paul	2001-07-15	1 1:49
Win	46–6–3	Travis Fulton	Decision	WEC 1: Princes of Pain	2001-06-30	3 5:00
Win	45–6–3	Wes Sims	Decision	RSF 2 – Attack at the Track	2001-06-23	3 4:00
Win	44–6–3	Harry Moskowitz	Submission (Keylock)	Reality Combat Fighting 11	2001-05-10	N/A
Loss	43–6–3	Jonathan Wiezorek	Submission	RSF 1 – Redemption in the Valley	2001-04-21	2 1:03
Win	43–5–3	Aaron Keeney	Submission (Keylock)	Dangerzone – Insane In Ft. Wayne	2000-11-25	1 2:03
Win	42–5–3	Travis Fulton	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Dangerzone – Night of the Beast	2000-10-28	1 2:01
Loss	41–5–3	Pedro Rizzo	Submission (Leg kicks)	UFC 27 – Ultimate Bad Boyz	2000-09-22	1 1:33
Win	41–4–3	Andrei Kopylov	Decision (Unanimous)	Rings – Millennium Combine 3	2000-08-23	2 5:00
Win	40–4–3	John Dixon	Submission (Keylock)	CFA 2 – Continental Freefighting Alliance 2	2000-07-19	1 5:18
Win	39–4–3	Ron Rumpf	Submission (Keylock)	Dangerzone – Battle At The Bear	2000-07-08	1 0:54
Win	38–4–3	Robert Stines	Submission (Neck Crank)	Dangerzone – Ft. Wayne 2	2000-05-20	1 0:44
Win	37–4–3	Marcus Silveira	Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)	WEF 9 – World Class	2000-05-13	1 4:46
Win	36–4–3	Bart Vale	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	CFA 1 – Collision at the Crossroads	2000-03-25	2 0:36
Loss	35–4–3	Josh Barnett	Submission (Armbar)	SuperBrawl 16	2000-02-08	4 1:21
Win	35–3–3	Mark Jaquith	Decision	Dangerzone – Ft. Wayne	1999-11-22	1 15:00
Win	34–3–3	Phil Ortiz	Submission (Keylock)	Extreme Challenge 28	1999-10-09	1 1:55
Win	33–3–3	David Ferguson	Submission (Strikes)	Dangerzone – Ft. Smith	1999-09-18	1 8:36
Win	32–3–3	Nick Starks	Decision	Ultimate Reality Fighting	1999-07-18	N/A 0:00
Win	31–3–3	Brad Kohler	TKO (Slam)	Ultimate Wrestling	1999-06-25	1 7:57
Win	30–3–3	Slade Martin	Submission (Keylock)	Dangerzone – Mahnomen	1999-06-19	1 3:30
Win	29–3–3	Ross Quam	Submission (Jaw Lock)	BITBH – Brawl in the Black Hills 1	1999-05-15	1 N/A
Win	28–3–3	Kevin Rosier	Submission (Bulldog Choke)	Cage Combat 1	1998-12-08	1
Win	27–3–3	Joe Frailey	Submission (Armbar)	SuperBrawl 9	1998-09-19	1 4:02
Draw	26–3–3	Pat Miletich	Draw	Extreme Challenge 20	1998-08-22	1 20:00
Win	26–3–2	Chris Franco	TKO (Cut)	SuperBrawl 8	1998-08-04	1 4:55
Win	25–3–2	Sam Adkins	Submission (Keylock)	IFC: Showdown at Shooting Star	1998-06-20	1 12:57
Win	24–3–2	Steve Miller	Submission (Rear naked choke)	WSW – World Shoot Wrestling	1998-06-12	1 5:45
Win	23–3–2	John Calvo	TKO (Punches)	SB 7 – SuperBrawl 7	1998-04-25	1 3:38
Win	22–3–2	Travis Fulton	Submission (Keylock)	Gladiators – Gladiators 2	1998-04-18	1 10:39
Win	21–3–2	Kevin Rosier	TKO (Strikes)	EC 15 – Extreme Challenge 15	1998-02-27	1 0:53
Draw	20–3–2	Kimo Leopoldo	Draw	PRIDE 1 – PRIDE 1	1997-10-11	1 30:00
Win	20–3–1	John Renfroe	Submission (Keylock)	IFC 6 – Battle at Four Bears	1997-09-20	1 2:28
Win	19–3–1	John Dixon	Submission (Strikes)	IFC 5 – Battle in the Bayou	1997-09-05	1 2:33
Win	18–3–1	Lance Gibson	Submission (Keylock)	SB 5 – SuperBrawl 5	1997-08-23	1 26:22
Win	17–3–1	Paul Buentello	Submission	USWF 6 – Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation 6	1997-08-16	1 2:55
Win	16–3–1	Ebenezer Fontes Braga	TKO (Cut)	IVC 1 – Real Fight Tournament	1997-07-06	1 8:17
Draw	15–3–1	Jeremy Horn	Draw	EC 7 – Extreme Challenge 7	1997-06-25	1 20:00
Win	15–3	Andre Racine	TKO	EC 6 – Extreme Challenge 6	1997-05-10	1 2:29
Loss	14–3	Mark Coleman	Submission (Choke)	UFC 12 – Judgement Day	1997-02-07	1 2:57	For UFC Heavyweight Championship
Win	14–2	Steven Goss	Submission (Rear naked choke)	EC 1 – Extreme Challenge 1	1996-11-23	1 1:53
Win	13–2	Mitsuhiro Matsunaga	Submission (Armlock)	U-Japan	1996-11-17	1 1:32
Win	12–2	Mario Neto	Decision	UVF 4 – Universal Vale tudo Fighting 4	1996-10-22	1 40:00
Win	11–2	Dennis Reed	Submission (Neck Crank)	BATB 1 – Brawl at the Ballpark 1	1996-09-01	1 4:10
Win	10–2	Doug Murphy	Submission (Keylock)	VTJ 1996 – Vale tudo Japan 1996	1996-07-07	1 3:23
Win	9–2	Ken Shamrock	Decision (Split)	UFC 9 – Motor City Madness	1996-05-17	1 30:00	Won UFC Superfight Championship
Win	8–2	Oleg Taktarov	Decision (Unanimous)	UU 95 – Ultimate Ultimate 1995	1995-12-16	1 30:00	Won Ultimate Ultimate 95 Tournament
Win	7–2	Tank Abbott	Decision (Unanimous)	UU 95 – Ultimate Ultimate 1995	1995-12-16	1 18:00
Win	6–2	Paul Varelans	Submission (Arm triangle choke)	UU 95 – Ultimate Ultimate 1995	1995-12-16	1 1:01
Loss	5–2	Ken Shamrock	Submission (Guillotine choke)	UFC 6 – Clash of the Titans	1995-07-14	1 2:14	For UFC Superfight Championship
Win	5–1	Dave Beneteau	Submission (Keylock)	UFC 5 – The Return of the Beast	1995-04-07	1 3:01	Won UFC 5 Tournament
Win	4–1	Oleg Taktarov	TKO (Cut)	UFC 5 – The Return of the Beast	1995-04-07	1 4:21
Win	3–1	Joe Charles	Submission (Rear naked choke)	UFC 5 – The Return of the Beast	1995-04-07	1 1:38
Loss	2–1	Royce Gracie	Submission (Triangle choke)	UFC 4 – Revenge of the Warriors	1994-12-16	1 15:49
Win	2–0	Marcus Bossett	Submission (Rear naked choke)	UFC 4 – Revenge of the Warriors	1994-12-16	1 0:52
Win	1–0	Anthony Macias	Submission (Rear naked choke)	UFC 4 – Revenge of the Warriors	1994-12-16	1 1:45

• The official website of Dan Severn
• Professional MMA record for Dan Severn from Sherdog
• Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', featuring Dan Severn, a documentary on the impact of Wrestling in the UFC
• Interview on Genickbruch.com
• Dan Severn at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
• Dan Severn's interview with John Kline of Elevation Radio
• MuscleSport Radio interview with Joe Pietaro, 6/16/09