Hope he gets himself turned around. Frye stormed into the fighting scene early, appearing as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC at the time, Severn said. and got it all framed in for him. admires for staying with him through the divorces, help with care of the He [5] In the quarter-finals, he set the record (since broken by Duane Ludwig and Jorge Masvidal) for fastest knockout in UFC history when his punches knocked down 410-lb Thomas Ramirez in just eight seconds. Readmore, California and Arizona are currently fighting each other over water from the Colorado River, but this isnt new - its actually been going on for over 100 years; at one point, the states literally went to war about it - and the problem comes down to some really bad math from 1922. Oh, and hes got a special request, as well. After teaming with Keiji Mutoh to defeat Masayuki Kono and Yoshihiro Takayama in a tag team match, Frye engaged in a post-match brawl with Takayama, playing off their Pride 21 bout from 2002.[19]. it was the wild wild West. the middle of the divorce at that time, and somebody had this bulldog Because he'd already suffered two defeats to Frye earlier in his career (and therefore probably wasn't going to win anyway) and DePersia implied that saying no would have a disastrous impact on his future, Hall says he reluctantly agreed to go along with the plot. Another rematch was on tap for Pride Shockwave 2003 on New Year's Eve, 2003 when Frye faced Gary Goodridge for the third time. Well, the audience because they witnessed something Much to everyones knowledge, Don went through difficult challenges both in his health and family life. perception from when he started, from divorces to injuries to making a lot of people, but Frye has always been there, even during the toughest This is a big privilege and honor for me.. Using his TV for the first time since it was given to him while he pet him. Luke Rockhold at BKFC 41: Best photos, BKFC's David Feldman: If Conor McGregor vs. Mike Perry never happens, it 'doesn't really matter', Chad Mendes explains decision to retire after BKFC 41 loss: 'I just don't need to be doing this sh*t anymore', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Riding a new wave of popularity, Frye's next outing was a return to MMA at Pride 23 on November 24, 2002 to face Olympic gold medalist judoka Hidehiko Yoshida. Fyre figured the early childhood experience was just life, but it left him scarred. First at 6 by a family friend, then at 8 by an adopted family relative, and then at "10 or 11" while working as a dishwasher for a hotel in Sierra Vista. Check out the main event preview now. Creative Commons. It was Fryes career and charisma that turned him into an icon overseas. Her birthplace is Update Soon. Although he fought for 11 different Once a year, Frye performs this search and looks for openings or gaps that could be signs of pest activity, evidence of rodents (like droppings or gnaw marks) and termite mud tubes. Frye was molested three times as child, he said. January 26, 2022 11:55 am ET. just everything. after his UFC career. He got me some fights across the country where I didnt get paid but thats pretty much how you test somebody.. He [18] In October 2008, Frye wrestled at the Pro Wrestling Expo shows, teaming with Yoshihiro Takayama in a losing effort to Masahiro Chono and Scott Norton on the first day, then losing a six-man tag on the third day. Widely recognized as one of the first fighters to successfully combine various styles into a well-rounded MMA game, The Predator looked back on the reasons behind his early octagon success. Due to the controversy surrounding MMA at the time, Frye was barred from both firefighting, his previous occupation in his hometown of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and from training in the Buena High School gym he had used since his ASU days following the event. Big 12 Conference remains open for expansion after Pac-12 merger talks end, As sports betting grows, states tackle teenage problem gambling, Former Arizona stars Mathurin, Terry, Koloko impress in NBA Summer League debuts, 2 kid-friendly films to wrap up Tucson summer Movies in the Park. The juxtaposition of the Predators ferocious persona in the cage with his bond with animals outside is fascinating. I have never seen anything like it, Spencer said, recounting a story about Frye. Proud of the scrap, he doesnt mind answering them but asks that you please do him a favor beforehand. Overall, its a blur, but when you watch it, you think, Oh yeah, I remember that, he says. Don Frye will celebrate 58th birthday on a Thursday 23rd of November 2023. hotel in Sierra Vista. I want to help TucsonSentinel.com offer a real news alternative! Frye now enjoys a quiet life in Catalina, a rural community 30 miles north of Tucson. It kept going I dont know why and now all of a sudden hes opening the door. In MMA, he was one of the sport's earliest well-rounded fighters and won the UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournaments and finished as runner-up UFC 10 in his first year of competition. Takayamas current condition. that time, the UFC was set up in a tournament bracket. [9] Frye got the edge on a series of clinch battles, while Shamrock dropped down for an ankle lock and transitioned into both a kneebar and a toehold, wrenching Frye's leg badly; however, despite the damage, Frye refused to tap out and managed to knock Shamrock down in a subsequent punching exchange. He participated in 31 MMA fights and won twenty of them via knockout. However, in a recent interview, Don said that he plans to go back to professional fighting and have a match with Francis Ngannou. Frye, a bread-and-butter wrestler and swing-for-the-fences puncher, had never won a fight by leg lock, and Hall practically fell into the submission. I was never the same after that. Im damn martial arts promotion in the world, and on June 23, 2002, Frye and Furthermore, Noah actors fans express their excitement to see The Predator back in the fighting scene once more should he decide to come back. Senator John McCain was actively campaigning against the sport he referred to as human cockfighting, Frye was forced to choose between his two occupations. By 1998, Frye began to rise in the ranks as he quickly became one of the company's lead heels. remember that, Frye said in his distinctive, raspy voice. that they didnt want anymore and so he called me and hes like, Can I It's really good to see Don Frye visiting the Hawtness in the hospital after the Hawtness was paralyzed a few years ago Their fight is forever one of the GOAT moments in MMA . Takayama, God bless him, man, he said. make you or break you, and I got lucky it made me. kicker was when she says, I dont think you can provide for the family Hall says that since Tank Abbott had already advanced to the final after two relatively easy wins, Frye who'd logged eleven minutes of cage time already that night wanted to save his energy for the championship match. When Don came back from California after his surgery and stroke, he Your email address will not be published. His Head down, tail up and charge mindset produced explosive fights, but what really powered his rage was experiences in his youth, and they still fuel him today. Before becoming a professional fighter, Don Frye worked as an EMT and firefighter. Reply Nickk_Jones Monkey in Space you a little angry, Frye said. Predator Frye rockstar, Spencer said. story about Frye. deserve that. sport, one of the first true mixed martial artists with backgrounds in [12], Following his tenure with the IFL and a one-off fight with Texas-based promotion NoLimit Fighting, Don Frye competed in his inaugural fight with the DEEP organization, fighting Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa Minowa. They met while Frye worked as a reserve firefighter before making it to the UFC. I thought to myself, You bunch of dumbasses, Dan Severn is already in the UFC Hall of Fame. Born of Irish and Scottish descent, Don Frye began wrestling at Buena High School in Sierra Vista, Arizona then in college for Arizona State University in 1984, where he was trained by fellow future Ultimate Fighting Championship compositor, then assistant wrestling coach, Dan Severn. That year, he also assembled and coached the Arizona-based Tucson Scorpions in the International Fight League, but on November 9, 2007 announced on TAGG radio that he and the IFL had parted ways. He punched me and knocked my feet out from underneath me so I had to grab him by the scruff of his neck to keep from falling. Required fields are marked *. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News). The induction also got him through a major back surgery, one that left him in the hospital for almost three months, with most of it being in a medically induced coma from brain hemorrhaging. A couple on my hand, couple on this (left) elbow, this (right) elbow, about five or seven on this (left shoulder), about five on this (right shoulder). Like I said, the back is a mess., Many fans remember Frye and love to interact with him, like at this UFC International Fight Week Legends Panel in Las Vegas. This would be the first in a trilogy of fights between the pair. He hit me in '96. Duel Frye has been a locomotive mechanic and worked in a lumber mill. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News). The year 2005 turned out to be a busy year for Frye as he made several appearances. It gave me I figured Id pick up some quick cash, pay off the bills and get back to the department and back out in the field, and it just snowballed from there. Nobody else on the planet but him wouldve made that fight T hank you for praying over this precious family during this difficult time, and thank you for reaching out to the extended Frye family over the . MMA world at all. His long career has sculpted Fryes perceptions on divorces, injuries and making a living; he acknowledges hes a lot darker now.. How do you top that?. [16] In September 2001, Frye won the G1 World Climax tournament. Over The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a professional MMA contest. Nothing good is going on in my life. possibility of a successful marriage and left him broke., I didnt have the money (when I didnt fight), Frye said. But, youd get off the plane and it was just crazy, the Old bullets, his father's Air Force memorabilia, commemorative Japanese pieces, and photos of him and his two daughters fill his living room's wooden shelves. Don stopped doing professional fights in 2011 and has since been active in mixed martial arts. Just one month later, Frye entered the UFC's Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournament, held to find the best of the best from past tournament winners and runners up. but what had transpired was more than anyone could have asked. price for that.. Gallery: Duel Fyre's gag email turned into a hand modeling gig. [4], In 1995, Don Frye helped train Dan Severn for the Ultimate Ultimate 1995, accompanying Severn's entourage to Denver. The UFC CATALINA, Ariz. Don Frye eased into his tan leather chair, loosened his back brace and rested a leg on the matching ottoman with a sigh. "authentically local news & community views", 2009-2023TucsonSentinel.com, Tucson, Arizona. In an interview, Frye mentions that unlike his fights where he has complete control, acting in a Godzilla film he had no control but enjoyed the experience nonetheless. bull in a China closet.. something to stay angry about and motivate me.. I was never the same after that fight. The Predator had a professional MMA record of 20-9-1 with one no Don Frye Height and Physical Info Some people are indeed interested in the weight and height of celebrities, but there is a more important question to ask. people would like mob him. relative, and then at 10 or 11 while working as a dishwasher for a Whenever Frye leaves the hospital, he stays with Spencer in Sierra Vista. You get ripped off for a few million dollars, betrayed and lied to and all that, it will change your opinions on a few things, Frye said. However, at the finals of the event, Frye faced Mark Coleman, who was considered the "godfather" of the ground and pound strategy Frye often followed. Took a big chunk out of my spirit that fighting spirit Upcoming Birthday. referee had tears in his eyes. You get ripped off for a few million dollars, betrayed and lied to I was in the toilet mentally, he said. The fight only lasted six minutes and 10 seconds of the first round, but what had transpired was more than anyone could have asked. They were one of four new teams established at the beginning of the 2007 season. It was Fryes career and charisma that turned him into an legend In the semifinals, Don Frye and Mark Hall met in a rematch of their UFC 10 bout. At that time, the UFC was set up in a tournament bracket. "Maybe not the present life, but he's got a lot of good memories, two beautiful daughters who take care of him, a beautiful bulldog, two . [18], On October 2, 2005, Frye took part in AJPW's Wrestle-1 Grand Prix where he lost to Jamal.[18]. Its not fair. brawls with The Viking Raiders: SmackDown highlights, April 28, 2023 . The Predator, often regarded as one of the grittiest fighters in mixed martial arts history, admitted he hadnt watched his fight with Yoshihiro Takayama He's especially vigilant for any gaps where the foundation meets the rest of the building and around the sill plate. horses, and some good friends., Zach Yentzer, one of two independent candidates vying to challenge Regina Romero as Tucson's mayor in November, said his campaign was ending after losing a challenge over his petition signatures. Severn has victories over the other Age 57 years old At the end, after an especially hard series of strikes to the spine and head of the Brazilian, the match was stopped and Frye was declared winner.[6]. Frye returned to Pride in February 2002, facing long-time rival Ken Shamrock at Pride 19 in a fight he had been trying to trash-talk himself into ever since Shamrock had defeated Dan Severn at UFC 6. However, Abbott lost his balance and fell, allowing Frye to secure a rear naked choke, to take the title of Ultimate Ultimate 96 Champion, his second UFC Tournament Championship. Not listening to My horse died back on Labor Day. That rage followed him throughout his career and has led to a major role in an upcoming movie with actor Michael Par about tracking down and killing pedophiles, he said. his body and masking the pain with medication shortened his career, he Did you miss the debut of UFC 288"Countdown" or just want to watch it again? said. Don Frye won his final belt in the UFC during Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 before moving on wrestling and MMA in Japan. I Don Frye is an American former mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, and actor. 179 following. Somewhere halfway between Japan and L.A., hed turn into Don The He Readmore, From the top editor on down, the Arizona Daily Star staff was cut by nearly one-quarter on Monday, as the newspaper's corporate chain owners told local journalists they were being laid off. something more than just blows to the face. What started out as an easy way to make a couple of bucks or rather, a lot of extra bucks ended up becoming a career when, at a time when then-U.S. It shocked the hell out of me. His technique later became the basics of modern MMA. Your contribution is tax-deductible. Multiple sizes available for all screen sizes and devices. Thats why we became good friends, because I knew him before he was However, if it were not for Severn, Frye may have never graced the He said no. Ever since Severn coached him at ASU, he knew Frye would do well. The Numerology of Don Frye [ ] Like I said, the back is a mess.. According to TMZ Sports, a fan at this past weekend's UFC 270 event tempted fate by bumping into the legendary UFC Hall of Famer's 10 . When the replay of the fight ended, Frye switched to a video of On April 4, 1998, Frye won the Antonio Final Opponent tournament and earned the right to wrestle NJPW founder and wrestling legend Antonio Inoki in his retirement match, which took place later that night. punching., The fight only lasted six minutes and 10 seconds of the first round, MMA veteran Don Frye has said he punched a UFC fan in the face after they challenged him to a fight. In his final boxing match, Frye lost via technical knockout to David Kilgour of Somis, California at the Reseda Country Club in Reseda, Los Angeles on December 11, 1990, bringing his professional record to two wins, five losses and one draw. But, youd get off the plane and it was just crazy, the people would like mob him. doesnt know how to go backwards, he just goes straight forward like a He also appeared for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) on October 26, 2003 at their 31st Anniversary, challenging Toshiaki Kawada for the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in a losing effort. A slight smirk appeared through his thick, burly mustache as his former self and Takayama the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Japanese wrestler moved to the corner of the ring and exchanged right hands akin to Rock Em Sock Em Robots. Takayama severed his spinal cord while performing a sunset flip for wrestling for Dramatic Dream Team Pro-Wrestling in 2017, which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. A lot of people that were around Don always wanted something from him, Spencer said. A However, Frye had to choose between his day job and his love for boxing. He's way too young to be having all these problems. Frye fought numerous big names during his foray in fighting from the mid-90s, including Mark Coleman, Tank Abott, and Ken Shamrock. next to his chair and cowboy hats and reins line the wall beside him. crying during the fight said it was an honor to be a part of that Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Many MMA fans agree that both fighters were never the same again, as both their careers began a steady downturn after the fight. My horse had died. He is credited on IMDb for the role as "Wrestling Opponent". Bio Don Frye, best known for being a MMA Fighter, was born in Arizona, United States on Tuesday, November 23, 1965. of modern MMA. The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a Frye, 56, last fought at a Gladiator Challenge event in December 2011, when he was on the receiving end of a first-round knockout from Ruben Villareal. After spending four years as one of Japan's top gaijin wrestlers, he returned to MMA with the Pride Fighting Championships in September 2001, much more muscular and sporting an American patriot persona in response to the September 11 attacks. (Screenshot courtesy of PRIDE FC), Overall, its a blur, but when you watch it, you think, Oh yeah, I remember that, Frye said in his distinctive, raspy voice. You'll now receive the top MMA Junkie stories each day directly in your inbox. A former pro boxer and a licensed firefighter, Don Frye made an impressive professional fight debut by knocking out 6'1", 410 pound Thomas Ramirez in 8 seconds. The induction also got him through a major back surgery, one that [1] A year later, he transferred to Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, where his teammates included future colleague Randy Couture.