School of hard knocks

What does it take to become a mixed martial artist?

“It all boils down to heart,” said Shaine Adams, a Zamora Boxing Gym fighter whose debut victory in June didn’t even make it out of the first round.

“You’ve got to be a little crazy, and you have to have that killer instinct,” added Jamie Coleman, another undefeated, Zamora-trained fighter.

“You have to be well rounded,” agreed Eric Zamora, owner and head trainer of the gym on Montanus Drive. “But your drive, determination and heart will carry you a long way.”

What’s Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer Dan “The Beast” Severn’s take on the subject?

All of the above and more.

“You’re going to have to sacrifice a lot of the current elements of your lifestyle,” Severn said. “I always tell young fighters that they better always have plans B, C, and D because this isn’t an easy sport to break into.”

Severn made his third trip to Culpeper in as many years Wednesday and gave about 20 amateur fighters and onlookers a small glimpse of just what it takes to step inside the cage and trade blood, sweat and tears.

“I have a true passion for this sport,” said Severn, who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2005. “People are always amazed at how I can work with big, scary-looking fighters one minute and a kid who may weigh 50 pounds the next.”

A ‘Beast’ on the mat
Severn didn’t waltz into Zamora’s gym showing off devastating head kicks or acrobatic flying knees. He stuck with what earned him the nickname “The Beast” in the first place — wrestling.

“My time on the mat has had a huge impact on my career,” Severn said. “My gift is being able to break down technique and because of that, I can get the most out of the MMA guys and the wrestlers I train.”

Budding cage fighters hung on Severn’s every word as he shared many of the moves that helped him transition from a three-time All-American at Arizona State to the first world-class wrestler to step into the Octagon.

“There are so many wrestling techniques that you can’t tell the difference between them and anything else in an MMA match,” said Severn, who began competing internationally in 1972.

Most of Severn’s demonstrations focused on closing distance, taking the fight to the ground and inflicting as much pain as possible with the least amount of effort — a subject that suited Coleman, a former high school state wrestling champion, just fine.

“Being a wrestler, there are a few wrestling moves that will get you in trouble in MMA,” said Coleman, who was undefeated his senior year at Orange County High School. “It was nice to be able to ask someone of his caliber questions.”

Unfinished business
Severn first stepped into the UFC Octagon in 1994. He was crowned champion at UFC 5, and is one of only a handful of fighters with more than 100 career bouts.

“A lot of people have regrets,” said Severn, who competed as recently as April of this year. “I have a chance to go back and do some stuff over. I’m not going to pass that up, and I’m not going to be told no.”

Two regrets topping Severn’s list are losses to fellow UFC Hall of Famers Ken Shamrock and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman.

Severn has never been shy about letting it known he wants rematches with both, and he said he’s had conversations with both fighters in the last couple months, but no timetable could be set as to when the bouts may occur.

“I reached out,” Severn said. “Basically, if they’re on board, I’m on board. It’s just all about putting together the right monetary package for everyone involved.”

Severn said he didn’t think the fights would happen on a promotion as big as the UFC, but he certainly isn’t counting out any options.

“It’s marketable, there’s no doubt about that,” Severn said. “You have Hall of Famer versus Hall of Famer. It seems simple to me.”

Whether he never climbs back into the cage or jumps back into the fray tomorrow, Dan “The Beast” Severn has shown time and time again that he has exactly what it takes to be an “Ultimate Fighter.”

Want to see more?
Check out a video of Dan “The Beast” Severn’s third trip to Zamora Boxing Gym at StarExponent.com.