Guerrilla Journalism: Bringing out ‘The Beast’

Guerrilla Journalism Series
Reporter Ron Counts is exploring the world of ‘alternative’ sports and will be writing a weekly column about his experience. You can follow him on his blog here for continous updates. 

When he was singled out to demonstrate a pummeling technique, Billy Reynolds looked as nervous as an awkward, pre-pubescent teen at his first middle school dance.

The mixed martial artist from Warrenton wasn’t apprehensive about perfecting the move. Being a former high school wrestler and a veteran of five MMA fights, he has run through the routine hundreds of times.

But Reynolds did have good reason to be a little skittish Wednesday as he walked across the black and red mats covering the floor at Zamora Boxing Gym.

“I had no idea what was coming,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t know if I was going to get crushed or made an example of. All I could think was, ‘Did Dan Severn really just call me out to the center of the mat?’”

Reynolds was awestruck as the guest instructor towered over him and explained the series of movements aimed at giving grapplers an advantageous position because standing before him was 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn.
“It was unbelievable,” Reynolds said. “I couldn’t believe I was shaking the hand of a guy I’ve watched fight since I was 12 years old.”

Severn, 51, spent several hours in the gym on Montanus Drive passing on some of the knowledge he has gleaned from more than 4,000 career amateur wrestling, MMA, sambo, judo and Tough Man matches to a room full of budding mixed martial artists.

“That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced,” said Nick Hanzivasilis, a Muay Thai trainer. “It was awesome to meet somebody with that kind of knowledge and amazing to see how far we all are from being great.”

Severn, a native of Flint, Mich., has been holding amateur wrestling camps in Manassas for four years and decided to take a break from full nelsons and fireman’s carries to show up-and-coming fighters from Culpeper, Orange and Warrenton how to inflict pain with minimal effort.

“People always wonder why I’m not more beat up,” Severn said. “It’s because I’m good at avoiding being struck. I like to show guys good, clean technique, and then I like to pull out a little thing I call the ‘Mongolian Book of Pain.’”

Just to be clear, Severn didn’t pull out a leather-bound collection of torture tactics and leaf through step-by-step directions, but he did show the MMA class at least 17 submissions from a position as simple as side control.

“It was pretty awesome because nobody ever thought a UFC champion would be in Culpeper,” said Eric Zamora, owner of Zamora Boxing Gym. “The funny thing is, he’s ‘The Beast’ when he’s in the cage, but he’s really a nice, humble guy. He didn’t come in with an attitude like he knows everything, and he was really respectful about making sure he wasn’t interfering with any of our training.”

Building on a legacy

Severn began his amateur wrestling career in 1969 and has experienced just about everything the sport has to offer. He won his first national championship in 1972 as a high school student and holds more than 100 titles in freestyle, folk style and Greco Roman wrestling.

He was also ranked No. 1 in the world in freestyle wrestling from 1984-89 and made the Olympic alternate team in 1980 and ’84.

“I know what it means to be the best and go against the best,” Severn said. “I’ve been blessed with good genetics, and I know what hard work is.”

In 1994, Severn’s experience and natural athleticism landed him in the UFC at a time when mixed martial arts was a fledgling sport trying to catch on in mainstream America.

“There were two rules back then: No biting and no eye gouging,” he said. “But in order for it to survive, the UFC had to change. Now the athletes have new sets of rules and you have much higher-caliber, well-rounded athletes competing on a regular basis.”

Severn began his MMA career at UFC 4, where he lost to fellow Hall of Famer Royce Gracie in the finals. But he bounced back in dramatic fashion, winning the tournament championship at UFC 5, before coming up short against long-time rival Ken Shamrock at UFC 6.

“I’m one of four guys that has over 100 career MMA matches,” Severn said. “And I’ve fought the other three.”

UFC champ in 1995

Despite getting in the cage with legendary fighters such as Gracie, Shamrock, David “Tank” Abbott, Pat Miletich and Kimo Leopoldo, Severn’s fondest memory is winning the Ultimate Ultimate Tournament in 1995.

The tournament consisted of eight UFC champions and runners up, and to claim the title, Severn had to fight three matches in one night.

“I was in the cage for just over two hours during that pay-per-view,” Severn said. “A lot of athletes can train the body but not the mind. If you don’t believe in yourself, it will show in your performance.”

Severn specifically remembers his second fight of the night, a unanimous decision victory over Abbott — who was known for his heavy hands and brawling style.

“After the fight, some guy told me Tank (Abbott) hit me with three solid shots and that I had hit him with somewhere in the neighborhood of 276 elbows,” Severn said. “I just enjoy competition, it’s what I do. The sad thing is, I eventually have to give it up.”

That day has yet to come.

Unfinished business

Even though he’s at an age when most athletes — especially fighters — are merely dreaming about jumping back into the fray, Severn is still climbing into cages and competing at MMA events.

“I know I only probably have a couple years left in me, but lots of people have regrets,” he said. “That’s why right now I’m on what I call the ‘Dan Severn No Regrets Kiss My Ass Tour.’”

The former champ competed as recently as June 20 — coming away with a unanimous decision victory — and isn’t ready to hang up his gloves just yet. As he said, “There is still some unfinished business.”

“I’m looking for some rematches against Mark Coleman, Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie,” Severn said. “It’s going to happen, maybe just not in the UFC.”

Some may look at a man of Severn’s age and just assume he doesn’t know when to quit, but even at 51 “The Beast” still knows how to strike fear in an opponent. And if that doesn’t work, he can probably still tear their arm off and carry it home as a souvenir.

“He (Severn) proves that age has nothing to do with anything,” Reynolds said. “You can tell by looking at him that he still has that fire and still has a competitive edge.”