Dan Severn, the fifty-one year-old MMA pioneer and owner of one of the two sweetest mustaches in the sport’s history, is back in action at this Saturday’s Gladiator Challenge in Konocti, California.  It will be Severn’s fourth bout this year and the 113^th of his fifteen-year career.  That, my friends, is what we call ‘prolific.’ 

Sure, it’s impressive that Randy Couture is still competing at the highest level of the sport at 46 years-old.  But it’s impressive in a completely different way that “The Beast” is still getting in there against whoever you got.  Want him to fight some dude with zero pro fights to his credit?  No problem.  Need him to be at some show known only as “Independent Event” in Alabama?  Just tell him what time he needs to be at Hooter’s for weigh-ins.  Severn will fight a clown at your kid’s birthday party if the money is right, and dammit, we can appreciate that.

On Saturday Severn faces Dan Huckaba, who is 11-3 in his pro career, though that record is somewhat padded with two wins over Ross Clifton and two over Bo Cantrell.  Far from being concerned about his opponent’s significant edge in the experience department, Huckaba just seems to be hoping that Severn doesn’t die on his watch: “Dan’s older, and no disrespect, but his prime is past. I punch very hard. I have a lot of respect for him, so I just hope everything ends safely for both of us.”

Say what you want, kid; Severn has heard it all.  Now let’s hurry up and do this thing so he can get home in time to catch a couple episodes of “Cops” before bed.  Just for fun, here’s Severn’s first foray into the world of MMA at UFC 4.  Things to take note of:

– Severn’s age in his first pro MMA bout (34).
– The grey t-shirt he wears to the Octagon all night, which gradually becomes more and more soaked with sweat.
– The unintentionally hilarious pre-fight interview clip before his debut bout.
– The clueless announcers insisting that there is no danger even as Royce Gracie locks in a slow-developing triangle choke in the finals.