On Januray 1st, UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn announced his retirement from mixed martial arts at the age of 54. Having last competed on July 28, 2012, ‘The Beast’ totalled an astounding career record of 101-19-7. In a 3-part interview, MMA Plus spoke exclusively with Dan, taking an in depth look at the heavyweight legend’s perception of the sport, and the factors that influenced his 18-year stint.
A two time UFC/Ultimate Ultimate tournament champion and UFC Superfight Champion, the American shared historic bouts with the likes of Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock and Mark Coleman.
Despite the highlight moments, Severn spent the vast majority of his career outside of the UFC. Travelling the world, he competed under the banner of countless promotions, from the early UFC years, to Pride, WEC, King of the Cage, his own promotion Dangerzone, and various minor promotions on the national circuit, not to mention a run in the then WWF. The MMA pioneer dedicated his life to the sports of MMA and amateur wrestling throughout every level of his career.
‘The ring master of a three-ring circus’
“I’ve had my own personal training facility ever since the fall of 1991. My first love is still teaching amateur wrestling, one of my own sons has gone through my programme as well. My training facility located in Coldwater Michigan, it’s a 10,000 square foot training facility, we teach amateur wrestling, we teach ‘professional wrasslin’, mixed martial arts, I have instructors who work with boxers and kickboxers, or who are much better submission grapplers than what I am. I’ve had people refer to myself as ‘The ring master of a three ring circus’. I will defer the mat to people who are much more proficient at doing arm-bars, knee-bars and things of that nature, because everybody has strengths and everybody has weaknesses.”
As one of the very first wrestling based competitors to develop a dominant submission grappling reputation, Severn expanded his efforts as a teacher, and directed a portion of knowledge towards U.S. law enforcement, sharing techniques he’s learned along the way, as part of his own training programme.
“I’m adding more and more states, each state is a little bit different, maybe in certification as to how it applies corrections or how it applies to officers who are on the street, they wear different types of uniforms, equipment, so there’s similarities in some techniques and differences based on the equipment they’re carrying with them and type of attire.”
Having maintained active competition throughout his 40’s and early 50’s, albeit at a lower level in comparison to the UFC, but nevertheless, Severn never felt the need to retire earlier. Making an enjoyable living, participating in what he enjoys, the physical aspect of being an aged fighter never hindered the now 55-year-old, having geared his style to maintain longevity.
“Not really receiving any real injuries, I’d have to list that as one of the top factors. As athletes, the more damage you receive over the course of your career might make you want to exit a little bit earlier. I didn’t even start a cage fighting career until just prior to turning 37 years of age back in 1994, so I started late to begin with. Had you asked me at that point in time how long do you think you would go, realistically, I probably would have told you I’m only looking at the next match, because you just don’t know what’s going to happen. If you had said to me I’d be going into my early fifties, I’d probably have said you were crazy.”
“Live by the sword, die by the sword”
“I’ll probably use a number of clichés but I’m a big believer that a person tends to live by the sword and die by the sword. If you’re a striker and you go out there throwing a great amount of strikes, not only are you going to strike somebody, you’re going to have strikes back in return. Example; Chuck Liddell, I could be wrong but I think I’m pretty close to being accurate, he was one match shy of holding two records simultaneously, those being knocking out the most people and being knocked out. That’s not exactly a great dual-record to have. In reality, every time you’re hit or put unconscious, superficially you might look ok, but down the road there will be the true tale of the tape as to what damage you received.”
“My background is so heavily grappling based-wrestling based, that a striker’s got to get at arms distance to strike, and as they get to arms distance they’re also at arms distance to be grasped.”
Competing in up to 10-bouts a year
“As opportunities presented themselves, or the fact that I wasn’t taking damage along the way, that allowed me to do an additional match much quicker, it’s just a multitude of variables that allowed me to compete as often as I did. Here I am at 54 years of age, I put out a press release as of December 2011 to promotions and promoters that I had in my database, simply letting them know that if they’d ever like to utilize my skills, I’d like it to occur some time in 2012 as I’m looking at retirement as of January 1st, 2013. I’m looking to do some other things that I have a great deal of interest in.”
The Moustache
Alongside fellow veteran and icon Don Frye, Severn pulled off that famous moustache with history of it’s own. Resting proudly, and distinctly upon an otherwise shaven face, the moustache has always been there.
“I still have it, I never thought that a moustache would become a trademark of a person. For about three or four years I sported a beard, I shaved it all off and my children didn’t even recognise me. Then I grew the moustache back and I’ve kept it ever since. Don was one of my wrestlers at Arizona State when I was coaching there, I helped Don get his start in ‘no holds barred’, and his ability that kinda kept him going the entire time. I see Don when I make it out there to Arizona.”
Fixed Fights
While competing across the US and around the globe, Severn’s career took a turn. Attracting an increased amount of critics and scrutiny, the UFC Hall of Famer found himself accused of winning fixed bouts. These being accusations he passionately denies, explaining that throughout his career, his attitude and style was not suited towards inflicting damage, claiming that a number of defeated opponents even thanked the veteran for not ensuing a beatdown when the opportunity presented itself.
“Simply because I didn’t go out there and just destroy somebody for your amusement? Maybe you don’t understand competition, maybe you don’t understand the honour of competition. How often do you see any of these mixed martial arts athletes tap out (from strikes)? They’re not tapping out, they’re covering up, letting their opponent unleash blow after blow after blow upon them until the referee stops the match. For some reason, today’s competitor thinks it’s more honourable to have the referee halt the match while the guy is beating the living tar out of you. I don’t understand that, I’ve tapped out before, I’ve known when checkmate was in place, why take any unnecessary punishment? You only get one body in this world, you best take care of it otherwise you’re gonna have a shorter life. I’ve had people say thank you for not killing me.”
Dream Ending
With retirement in close sight, Dan contemplated a nostalgic dream ending. What sounded like a peaceful desire to wishfully end where it first began, particular bouts against Mark Coleman, Ken Shamrock and Royce Grace, if not purely for old-times sake, stood out as highlight rivalries he’d be keen to revisit.
“I think to a certain extent they would have been marketable, I wouldn’t make them my main event because the reality is it’s just a couple old farts going at it, but sure, it is marketable.”
Follow Dan Severn on Twitter @danbeastsevern and check out www.the-beast.com
Part 2 of this MMA Plus exclusive comes next week, where Dan Severn recaps the early UFC days, facing Royce Gracie, and issues with the infamous Tank Abbott.
Brought to you by Jorden Curran. Follow Jorden on Twitter @onejcurran
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