UFC 5: The Return of the Beast was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 7, 1995, at the Independence Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video. UFC 5 used an eight-man tournament format, with the winner receiving $50,000. The event also featured the first ever UFC Superfight, as well as two alternate fights, which were not shown on the live pay-per-view broadcast. The tournament had no weight classes, or weight limits. Each match had no rounds; therefore no judges were used for the night. This was the first UFC event to feature any kind of time limits. A 20 minute time limit was imposed for the quarterfinal and semi-final round matches in the tournament. The finals of the tournament and the Superfight had a 30 minute time limit, though not necessarily enforced, as the Superfight went 36 minutes (incorporating an on the spot decision to extend the fight by 5 minutes) before being called a draw. The referee for the night was 'Big' John McCarthy. Dan Severn won the event by defeating Dave Beneteau with a keylock.

This UFC event was the last with the involvement of Rorion Gracie, ostensibly because the introduction of new rules had diluted Gracie's (and his family's) vision for the UFC and vale tudo fighting. Gracie and his partner Art Davie later sold WOW Promotions, co-promoters of the event, to WOW's partner, Semaphore Entertainment Group. Royce Gracie also ended his involvement following Rorion's departure.

Results

Alternate matches

• Alternate bout: Dave Beneteau vs. Asbel Cancio
  Beneteau wins by TKO at 0:21 of the first round.
• Alternate bout: Guy Mezger vs. John Dowdy
  Mezger wins by TKO at 2:02 of the first round.

Main card

• Quarterfinal bout: Jon Hess vs. Andy Anderson
  Hess wins by TKO at 1:23 of the first round.
• Quarterfinal bout: Todd Medina vs. Larry Cureton
  Medina wins by TKO at 2:55 of the first round.
• Quarterfinal bout: Oleg Taktarov vs. Ernie Verdicia
  Taktarov wins by submission (choke) at 2:33 of the first round.
• Quarterfinal bout: Dan Severn vs. Joe Charles
  Severn wins by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:38 of the first round.
• Semifinal bout: Dave Beneteau vs. Todd Medina
  Beneteau wins by TKO ar 2:12 of the first round. Beneteau replaced John Hess who broke his hand in his first match.
• Semifinal bout: Dan Severn vs. Oleg Taktarov
  Severn wins by TKO (cut) at 4:21 of the first round.
• Final bout: Dan Severn vs. Dave Beneteau
  Severn wins the UFC 5 Tournament by submission (keylock) at 3:01 of the first round.
• Superfight: Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie
  The bout was called a draw after 36:00.