Dan Bobish

Background Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Bobish was an all-state wrestler and played football at Maple Heights High School before competing at Cuyahoga Community College, where he was a NCJAA All-American. Bobish later transferred to the University of Mount Union, where in two seasons he went 58-2 and was the 1992 NCAA Division III National Champion at 275 lb during his senior season. He was also a two-time All-American for 1991 and 1992. Bobish also played football as a defensive tackle for one season at Mount Union, and later had a tryout with the Cleveland Browns. After failing, he started to work as a bouncer at the Beach club, where he gained a reputation as a fighter. He claimed, "I never got beat one-on-one in a fight. Even two-on-one."

Mixed martial arts career Bobish became interested in mixed martial arts by suggestions of friends in the bar where he bounced, The Flats, in which Ultimate Fighting Championships events were commonly ordered.

Ultimate Fighting Championship After his vale tudo tenure, Bobish debuted in Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1997, following the tenures of Severn and his other teammate Don Frye. He entered the UFC 14 heavyweight tournament, where he was placed against kickboxer and UFC veteran Brian Johnston. Although his opponent proved his field of expertise by momentarily stunning Bobish, the wrestler took him down, folded him against the fence and submitted him to a forearm choke. Bobish advanced round and met another Hammer House fighter, fellow former NCAA Division I champion Mark Kerr, who opened their match with effective leg kicks and a takedown scored. Bobish tried to escape, but Kerr held him down while hitting ground and pound, and ultimately jammed his chin into Bobish's eye to force him to give up.

King of the Cage After moving to 6–3, Bobish fought Eric Pele at KOTC 12: Cold Blood for the vacant KOTC Super Heavyweight Championship. Bobish won after Pele's corner threw in the towel at 1:10 into the second round.

Bobish then defended his title against Mike Kyle, before losing it to Jimmy Ambriz at KOTC 16: Double Cross.

PRIDE Fighting Championships Following his professional wrestling work in Japan in 2003, Bobish had his first MMA bout in Japan for event X-1, easily defeating Basil Castro. He was then brought to PRIDE Fighting Championships in November, pitted in PRIDE Final Conflict 2003 against renowned UFC and PRIDE veteran Gary Goodridge. However, the bout was short and controversial: having received an eye poke in the first striking exchange, Bobish stopped fighting and told the referee on the belief the match would be stopped for the ring doctor, but it wasn't, and Goodridge capitalized on the distraction to knock Bobish out.

Bobish returned at PRIDE 27 against feared Ukrainian striker Igor Vovchanchyn. The American scored an early takedown and mounted Vovchanchyn, initially looking for a neck crank and later seeking a keylock, while applying ground and pound during the process. Eventually Vovchanchyn regained guard, and action was restarted on the feet with a yellow card for Bobish due to a lapse of inactivity. Vovchanchyn then landed multiple strikes while on the feet, but Bobish managed to take him down again and achieve north/south position, ending the round with another submission attempt. At th second, however, Vovchanchyn controlled an already visibly tired Bobish with punches and knee strikes, and ultimately dropped him and mounted him for his own ground and pound. Devoid of energy, Bobish then submitted verbally.

Bobish then faced another renowned kickboxer in Mark Hunt at PRIDE 28 on October 31, 2004. Bobish scored a takedown and forced Hunt to turtle up, landing hammerfists and knee strikes and at one point even attempting a crossface hold on the kickboxer. However, the tough Hunt absorbed the damage and managed to escape to his feet. With Bobish showing signs of fatigue, Hunt forced him to surrender with an uppercut and a body kick.

Independent promotions After his PRIDE run, Bobish returned to King of the Cage, and regional U.S. promotions. He went 8–2 in his final ten fights. He lost his last fight at Hardcore Championship Fighting: Title Wave against Alexander Emelianenko on October 19, 2007. During the fight Bobish blew out his L3 and L4 discs in his back, and made the decision to end his career rather than receive surgery.

Professional wrestling Bobish made his professional wrestling debut in March 2003 for Japanese promotion Fighting World of Japan, where he teamed up with his MMA training partner Don Frye to unsuccessfully face Kensuke Sasaki and Hiroshi Hase in their first match. Bobish then became a regular player, teaming up with Hase himself and other native wrestlers. A year later, he debuted for the HUSTLE promotion in Japan, appearing as part of Generalissimo Takada's Takada Monster Army, and occasionally wrestling as a representative in Pro Wrestling Zero-One. He had 22 total matches, nine of which were tag team. He also competed for three more years while simultaneously fighting in MMA.

Personal life Bobish now lives in his hometown of Cleveland and began promoting local fights in 2010 when he founded "Ultimate Cage Battles." Bobish was once a sparring partner and bodyguard for Mike Tyson. Bobish is married and has four children.

Championships and accomplishments

Collegiate wrestling

National Collegiate Athletic Association 1992 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships - 1st place, 275 lb NCAA Division III Wrestling All-American (1991, 1992)

Mixed martial arts King of the Cage KOTC Super Heavyweight Championship (One time) One successful title defense Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC 14 Heavyweight Tournament - runner-up Universal Vale Tudo Fighting UVTF 4 Tournament - runner-up UVTF 6 Tournament - semifinalist

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Alexander Emelianenko Submission (guillotine choke) HCF: Title Wave

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Nate Eddy KO (punch) NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats III

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

Chris Clark Submission (americana) GFS: Seasons Beatings

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

Dan Evensen TKO (submission to punches) Xtreme Fight Series 2

Boise, Idaho, United States Win

Matt Eckerle Submission (guillotine choke) Fightfest 6

Corpus Christi, Texas, United States Win

Eric Knox TKO (punches) GFS: Fight Nite in the Flats 2

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

Chris Clark Submission (armbar) Fightfest 3

Youngstown, Ohio, United States Loss

Ben Rothwell KO (knee) GFC: Team Gracie vs Team Hammer House

Columbus, Ohio, United States Win

Joey Smith TKO (submission to punches) KOTC 64: Raging Bull

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

Ruben Villareal TKO (punches) KOTC 48: Payback

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Loss

Mark Hunt TKO (body kick) PRIDE 28

Saitama, Japan Loss

Igor Vovchanchyn TKO (punches) PRIDE 27

Osaka, Japan Loss

Gary Goodridge TKO (punches) PRIDE Final Conflict 2003

Tokyo, Japan Win

Basil Castro TKO (punches) X-1

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Jimmy Ambriz TKO (submission to punches) KOTC 16: Double Cross

San Jacinto, California, United States Lost the KOTC Super Heavyweight Championship. Win

Mike Kyle TKO (submission to punches) KOTC 13: Revolution

United States Defended the KOTC Super Heavyweight Championship. Win

Eric Pele TKO (corner stoppage) KOTC 12: Cold Blood

San Jacinto, California, United States Won the vacant KOTC Super Heavyweight Championship. Win

Brett Hogg Submission (armbar) RSF 5: New Blood Conflict

Augusta, Georgia, United States Loss

Mark Kerr Submission (chin to the eye) UFC 14

Birmingham, Alabama, United States Win

Brian Johnston Submission (forearm choke) UFC 14

Birmingham, Alabama, United States Loss

Carlos Barreto Submission (triangle choke) Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 6

Brazil Win

Ucimar Hypolito KO (punches) Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 6

Brazil Win

Joe Charles Submission (forearm choke) World Fighting Federation

Birmingham, Alabama, United States Loss

Kevin Randleman TKO (submission to punches) Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4

Brazil Win

Dave Beneteau TKO (doctor stoppage) Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4

Brazil Win

Mauro Bernardo Submission (forearm choke) Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4

Brazil