Report Last Updated - 4/03
Birthdate - 6/8/54
6'2" 250 lbs. - Coldwater, MI
Team - n/a
Style - Wrestling
Career Highlights
- Makes it to the finals of UFC IV beating Anthony Macias and Marcus Bossett before losing to Royce Gracie
- Defeats Joe Charles, Oleg Taktarov, and Dave Beneteau to get win UFC V
- Wins the first Ultimate Ultimate beating Paul Varelans, Tank Abbott, and Oleg Taktarov
- Fights Kimo to a 30 minute draw at the inaguaral Pride show
- Beats Marcus "Conan" Silveria at in the WEF 9 Superfight
Striking - Dan Severn is a wrestler and though he does not like to pound away on opponents, he can if he has to. Often he gets an opponent down and wears them down with big knees if he can, punches and elbows if he cannot. Probably his weakest area and one that he's getting too old to do much about.
Wrestling - Severn is a world class wrestler and powerful guy. He can take most opponents down with that combination, unless the person is a superior wrestler. In Severn's first UFC fight, he hit two back suplexes that became highlight favorites. He is excellent at shooting legs and often drives opponents back into the fence, but can more often than not take them down. Severn is slowing down, but he is still a strong man and has the know-how.
Hooking - Dan Severn's wrestling skill helps him dominate opponents, but he doesn't have a vast knowledge of holds, so he has problems finishing opponents off. Unless the opportunity is right in front of him, Severn usually has to pound away on opponents. Aside from rudamentary submissions he largely given up on learning submissions as he's probably just not quick and savvy enough anymore to master them.
Strengthes - As he made the transition from wrestling to mixed martial arts, he realized he had to do more then rely on his wrestling. Severn's willingness to catch opponents off guard proved to be an asset. He often looks slow, but bullies opponents to the ground where all the youth in the world doesn't help. Severn's a veteran (that's an understatement) and that keeps him dangerous.
Weaknesses - Like many of the early competitors of UFC, Dan Severn came in with really one skill. His wrestling ability was remarkable, but his weaknesses would show as he struggled to finish off opponents and left himself vulnerable on takedowns. Though time helped Severn become more well-rounded his age has become a new flaw that he cannot fix.
Outlook - Severn is getting up there, but he has had a significant impact on the Mixed Martial Arts world. Though he was an early star in the UFC, like Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock, Severn never could return to No Holds Barred fighting and succeed. The Beast continues to work in amateur and professional wrestling with limited success. Severn's best years are behind him, but his legacy is undeniable. He remains to go pretty regularly (nearly once a month!) and boosts a tremendous W-L record, winning about 80% of his fights and he's fought well over fifty times and is nearly fifty years old himself. It seems no one else can touch all of those records and few will do even even one.