"Savage" Dan LaSavage Bio

“Savage” Dan LaSavage began his MMA career with an impressive amateur record of (4-1) in October of 2005. All four of his amateur wins ended in the first round via TKO or with submissions and his last amateur fight would be one year after his first. LaSavage has also fought as an amateur in Muay Thai kickboxing and Boxing, compiling (1-0) records in each sport respectively.

LaSavage would make his pro debut in February of 2007 at the Gladiators Fighting Series: No Guts, No Glory show. It would only take him 29 seconds to end the bout with a rear naked choke. In his next two bouts against Rob Kimbrough and Gabriel Jones in July and August of 2007, “Savage” Dan LaSavage would decimate both of his opponents at the one minute mark in the first round. Rob Kimbrough would lose via TKO – referee stoppage and Gabriel Jones would lose by submission due to strikes.

In October of 2007, LaSavage would drop down from the 145lb featherweight division to the 135lb bantamweight division to challenge the current Gladiators Fighting Series and XFO champion, John Hosman and avenge the loss of his teammate and training partner Omar Choudhury. Hosman had previously defeated Choudhury for the bantamweight title via unanimous decision in February of 2007, the same time LaSavage was making his pro debut.

LaSavage’s opponent, John Hosman, had three times as many professional fights as the undefeated young challenger. He was also noticeably taller and longer with a big reach advantage. As LaSavage pushed forward with each flurry, Hosman kept circling and backing up waiting for the correct time to counter. And then it came, a big left kick to the face of LaSavage. The kick would open up a gash above the eye that required 18 stitches to close. In a desperate effort to finish his opponent before the doctors stopped it, LaSavage pushed forward again to end the fight. Hosman would unleash another head kick that would drop LaSavage to the canvas. Immediately, the referee stopped the bout at 1:01 in the first round.

Prior to the bout, Dan LaSavage had amassed a (3-0) professional MMA record and had his mind set on getting into the WEC. The loss presented a stumbling block in the young fighters career. LaSavage would take nearly four months off before returning to action.

LaSavage’s next fight would be at Gladiators Fighting Series show called the Warriors, almost exactly one year from his pro debut. Gladiators Fighting Series had scheduled LaSavage to fight Billy “Rock’m, Sock’m” Jochum out of Minneapolis, but Jochum pulled out of the bout due to a knee injury the same week as the fight. The promoters scrambled to find a replacement in the time remaining. If LaSavage wanted to fight, he would have to take on a bigger challenge than his previously scheduled opponent. He accepted the challenge and took the fight against a very experienced fighter in Matt “Horndog” Horning out of Columbus, Ohio.

Matt Horning, who has over 30 professional fights with a record of (18-13) showed his experience and toughness in his bout. The crowd was on their feet for the entire spectacle as the two fighters exchanged heavy hands. Despite being on the receiving end of many of LaSavage’s power shots, Horning survived the first round. Early in the second round, LaSavage threw an overhand right that sent Horning to the canvas. Horning managed to get back to his feet only to receive a right hook and uppercut that would send the “Horn Dog” crashing back down to the canvas. “Savage” Dan LaSavage would finish his opponent at 39 seconds in the second round and earn Wisconsin Combat Sports Knock-Out of the Night honors.

After the bout, Matt Horning would post this comment on MMA.TV, “Last weekend I fought Dan LaSavage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Gladiator Fight Challenge. I gotta say that is one of the toughest fights I have fought in a while. Best of luck to him, it was a back and forth battle and I ended up losing. Gotta say he hits harder than any 135lb fighter I have fought. Another thing I gotta give props for is he showed me mad respect and was very humble after the fight. Good luck in the future Dan, you made a fan here!”

“Savage” Dan LaSavage began and continues to train striking and MMA under four-time world champion kickboxer Duke Roufus and former Golden Gloves boxer Scott Cushman, which began roughly four years ago. In addition to his impressive striking arsenal, he has trained extensively in grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. LaSavage initially began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under the Pedro Sauer black belt, Jon Friedland and now currently trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well as MMA, under UFC veteran and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, Eric Schafer at the Duke Roufus Gym in Milwaukee.

He has aspirations of fighting in the WEC or World Extreme Cagefighting organization. His current MMA professional record is (4-1) and his overall MMA record is (8-2). In addition, he is the owner of a fight gear and equipment store named, Combat Corner that has been in existence since 2007. Combat Corner is located on 97th and Greenfield in West Allis, Wisconsin.

This is a bio I wrote for Dan LaSavage's website: www.danlasavage.com.