Dan
Severn fought in three different decades, compiling 101 victories.
| Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Dan Severn
“The Beast”
Ultimate Fighting Championship (1994-96, 1997, 2000);
Vale Tudo Japan (1996); Brawl at the Ballpark (1996); Universal
Vale Tudo Fighting (1996); U-Japan (1996); Extreme Challenge (1996,
1997, 1998, 1998, 1999); International Vale Tudo Championship
(1997); Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation (1997); Icon Sport
(1997, 1998, 1998, 1998, 2000); International Fighting Championship
(1997, 1998, 2006); Pride Fighting Championships (1997); Gladiators
(1998); World Shoot Wrestling (1998); Cage Combat (1998); Brawl in
the Black Hills (1999); Dangerzone (1999, 1999, 1999, 2000, 2000,
2002, 2004); Ultimate Wrestling (1999, 2001); Ultimate Reality
Fighting (1999); Continental Freefighting Alliance (2000, 2000);
World Extreme Fighting (2000); Rings (2000, 2005); Reality
Superfighting (2001, 2001, 2001); Reality Combat Fighting (2001);
World Extreme Cagefighting (2001); Iowa Challenge (2001); King of
the Cage (2002, 2002, 2003, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2007, 2009, 2010,
2011); Aztec Challenge (2002); Victory Fighting Championship
(2002); Ultimate Combat (2002, 2004); War at the Shore (2003);
Maximum Fighting Championship (2003, 2005); Hardcore Fighting
Championships (2003, 2004); Gladiator Challenge (2003, 2004, 2005,
2005, 2007, 2009, 2011); Rage in the Cage (2003); Seasons Beatings
(2003); Pacific Xtreme Combat (2004); Enter the Beast (2004);
Xtreme Fighting Championship (2004); Gladiator (2004); American
Fighting Association (2004); Continental Fighting Championships
(2004); Warrior MMA (2005); Northern Fighting Championships (2005);
X-1 World Events (2005); Action Wrestling Entertainment (2005);
Worldwide Fighting Championship (2006, 2007, 2008); Goshin Ryu
(2006); Deep South Entertainment (2006); Independent Event (2006);
Northstar Fighting Association (2006); Cage Rage (2007); C3 Fights
(2007); World Vale Tudo Federation (2007); Titans of the Pentagon
(2007); Universal Fight Promotions (2007); Iroquois MMA
Championships (2008, 2009); Cage Wars (2008); Hell Cage (2008);
Gladiator Fighting Championship (2009); Elite 1 MMA Productions
(2011); Paul Vandale Promotions (2011); Blueblood MMA
(2012)
***
For decades when boxers were considered the toughest fighters in a
real-world situation, many wrestlers bristled. When MMA came along,
it was time for wrestlers to finally prove themselves. Severn led
the charge. His wrestling made him one of the most successful early
UFC fighters, and he improved as he added additional elements to
his game. Although he started MMA at an advanced age, Severn
continued to fight on smaller shows for the love of the game well
into his 50s. He was important, not only for the success he enjoyed
inside the Octagon but also for encouraging high-level amateur
wrestlers to get into MMA. Seven surely looks on with pride as so
many of today’s best fighters were excellent amateur wrestlers.
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Frank Shamrock
