UFC 5 - COLEMAN VS SEVERN

UFC 5 - COLEMAN VS SEVERN

At UFC 12, the highly anticipated fight between Mark "The Hammer" Coleman and Dan "The Beast" Severn took place to determine the first ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. Both men were accomplished wrestlers, with Coleman winning the UFC 10 and 11 tournaments and Severn being the reigning UFC Superfight Champion after winning the UFC 5 and Ultimate Ultimate 1995 tournaments.

The fight was originally supposed to be between Severn and Don Frye, the winner of the Ultimate Ultimate 1996 tournament, but Frye withdrew and Coleman stepped in. It was a clash between two of the best wrestlers in the early UFC, with Severn known for his powerful takedowns and Coleman for his devastating ground-and-pound.

Severn entered the fight as the more experienced MMA fighter, having competed in the first four UFC events. However, Coleman was riding high after his dominant tournament wins and was determined to add the UFC Heavyweight title to his collection. The fight promised to be a grappling-heavy affair, with both men looking to impose their wrestling skills and avoid the other's strengths.

With the UFC struggling to find venues due to political pressure, the fight took place in the small town of Dothan, Alabama. Despite the limited audience, the pay-per-view numbers showed the UFC still had a significant following. Fans were eager to see who would emerge victorious between the two wrestling legends and become the first UFC Heavyweight Champion.