added. 2023 Cronkite News. 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. After three rounds of what many considered to be a lackluster fight, the bout was ruled a draw. Then, he was asking me how much he owes me, and Im like, Don, you dont owe me anything. He stole my soul. Hell yeah. Frye took seven months off following the losses to Le Banner and Yoshida, and next fought at Pride 26 on June 28, 2003 to try to avenge his loss to Mark Coleman. being in a medically induced coma from brain hemorrhaging. It's been a rocky road for UFC Hall of Fame legend Don Frye. came around at that time and I was like 28, 29, and then I got into it. Her birthplace is Update Soon. He played FBI agent Clarence Hurt in Public Enemies, by director Michael Mann.[20]. It appears ONE Championship won't be doing business with former UFC heavyweight champion and prized free agent Francis Ngannou. I never did that. shoeing, firefighting and bartending. Find a staff list and description of our beats here. 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 . I shouldve retired after the Takayama fight, said Frye, who had a But fighting is just one of the many chapters that altered Fryes life. A lot of people that were around Don always wanted something from him, Spencer said. When Don came back from California after his surgery and stroke, 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. 2023 Cronkite News. I have never seen anything like it, Spencer said as he recalled a He finished his career in 2011 with a pro MMA record of 20 wins. crying during the fight said it was an honor to be a part of that His daughters help care for them and the property when he cant. After the tournament win, Frye left NJPW and returned to MMA. 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. My first daughter was born in 2000, second daughter born in 2001, and they were born dizzy." On trading punches and taking punishment: "That was my problem: I always wanted to. Overall, its a blur, but when you watch it, you think, Oh yeah, I 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. I had to quit (the job as a firefighter). Frye won at the U-Japan event in November 1996, taking a submission victory by forearm choke over Mark Hall in a rematch. It was such a great fight, take the time to learn the mans name, because he deserves it. Not listening to entails, rewinding and rewatching the move that cost Takayama his body up there and did all the framing on the garage and put their trusses up His technique would later become the basics Spencer, a retired Battalion chief for the Frye Fire Department (no about five or seven on this (left shoulder), about five on this (right CATALINA - Don Frye eased into his tan leather chair, loosened his back brace, and rested a leg on the matching ottoman with a sigh. Hes like an animal whisperer or something, he Half a dozen saddles are stacked next to his chair, and cowboy hats and reins line the wall beside him. The one regret Frye had over his career was not listening to his body. Lwowski works as a reporter and photographer for Wrangler News and interned for Phoenix Magazine Visuals in spring 2022. Readmore, Cattle grazing has seriously damaged much of the 42-mile long San Pedro conservation area in Southeastern Arizona, according to a study by the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, which pointed a finger at "cow-worshipping, rancher-fearing BLM employees." Appearing in an MMA bout for the first time in five years at Pride 16 in Osaka, Japan on September 24, 2001, two weeks after the September 11 attacks, Frye entered the ring waving an American flag and wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "terrorists suck". Takayama delivered for PRIDE 21. In the finals, Frye faced striker Tank Abbott, who landed early shots, opening a cut on Frye's face and causing swelling. Oh, and hes got a special request, as well. north of Tucson. Don being Don, he would take a lot of time with them and Im sure thats what made him big over there., His popularity also led to his featured role in Godzilla: Final Wars.. I want to help TucsonSentinel.com offer a real news alternative! Last year, they opened the door and let me into the UFC Fan Expo, and I guess it went good enough that it made the other door open., Frye went on to brush off any lingering bad blood with White, who praised the soon-to-be Hall of Famer as a legend in this sport and one of the toughest guys to ever compete., We dont send each other Christmas cards, but you know, Frye said jokingly. Don experienced a brain hemorrhage while in surgery. Fyre figured the early childhood experience was just life as he Although his close friends knew him as J.R. Frye, he had a different identity in Japan, said Jeff Spencer, one of Fryes close friends. And I get pretty pissed off when people try to take advantage of him.. I was never the same after that fight. They always say that big, blond Chinese guy,' Frye said. has something special with animals.. Readmore, After a tough winter for roadways, the Arizona Department of Transportation has pledged more than $85 million to patch potholes and to resurface, repair and improve highways in the state. Not listening to his body and masking the pain with medication shortened his career, he said. Thats why we became good friends, because I knew him before he was famous and I didnt want anything from him. Subscribe and stretch your donation over time: Or give a secure one-time gift with PayPal or your credit card: TucsonSentinel.com is an Arizona nonprofit organization. Another rematch was on tap for Pride Shockwave 2003 on New Year's Eve, 2003 when Frye faced Gary Goodridge for the third time. 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. Readmore, Arizona is home to more than 200,000 undocumented immigrants, most of them are unable to obtain a drivers license, but community advocates are hoping for change at the state level, and one lawmaker is adamant about delivering that change. Frye won via technical knockout on the scorecard, but it was truly the viewers who won. In 2006, he made an appearance as an Aryan Brotherhood member in Miami Vice, lent his voice for The Ant Bully, and appeared in the Rob Schneider prison comedy Big Stan, along with fellow mixed martial artists Randy Couture and Bob Sapp in 2007. How do you top that?. [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. Three months later, at a joint New Year's Eve show Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001: K-1 vs. Inoki, Frye defeated Cyril Abidi with relative ease, taking the French kickboxer to the mat and controlling him throughout round one before finishing him with a rear naked choke in two. He found success in the sport he loved, but rooted in that journey is a dark past. left him in the hospital for two and a half months, with most of it The MMA legend that helped pave the way in the early days of mixed martial arts has suffered in recent years, going through a divorce and having several surgeries done which caused a brain hemorrhage which forced him to be put into a medically induced coma. In his last appearance in the promotion, Frye faced Kim Min-Soo at Hero's 7 on October 9, 2006 and knocked him out with a right hook in the second round. His two daughters, who he admires for staying with him through the divorces, help with care of the animals and property. Id like to kill those f that did that to me, Frye said, staring out the kitchen window at the Catalina Mountains, a cigar in his hand. Currently, Don Frye is 57 years, 3 months and 20 days old. you a little angry, Frye said. The UFC changed Fryes life once again when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. I dont think I fought in the UFC until I was 30.. Frye sat in silence and watched the video of what Takayamas life The money, Frye said flatly. of times. 175 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the, Ranked No. Even though Shamrock had injured Frye's ankles, later leading to dependency on painkillers,[10] the two hugged after the fight ended, putting an end to their rivalry. Taking his first loss since fighting Mark Coleman in 1996, Frye was submitted by Yoshida via armbar in the first round. perception from when he started, from divorces to injuries to making a (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News). The fighting was so great, so fierce that the referee had tears in his eyes. Birthplace Arizona . (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) We're committed to making quality news accessible; we'll never set up a paywall or charge for our site. The setback left his record at 20-9-1. shoulder). When the UFC was started in 1993 and even up until the early 2000s, All rights reserved. relative, and then at 10 or 11 while working as a dishwasher for a on the matching ottoman with a sigh. the man you used to be, not as tough as you used to be, you dont have Here, though, Frye ankle-locked Hall to advance to the finals without breaking a sweat. The daily news products are produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Don was in a medically induced coma in 2016. : Unfortunately, this night was the second time I felt I was refereeing a fixed bout. Four months after defeating Ken Shamrock, Frye returned to MMA to face Japanese professional wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama at Pride 21 on June 23, 2002. Frye finished his UFC career with a 9-1 record, with no fights going the distance. My horse had died. Frye was molested three times as child, he said. Debuting at UFC 8 in Bayamn, Puerto Rico on February 16, 1996, Frye was among the eight competitors in the openweight tournament that night and was one of two fighters of the era skilled in both stand-up and ground fighting, the other being Marco Ruas. He's way too young to be having all these problems. The fight was to be the first fight in YAMMA's Masters Division, a division for fighters over the age of 39. storied 15-year career. The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a Soleil Moon Frye knows a thing or two about being a child . At the end, after Coleman secured side mount and dropped punches and headbutts onto Frye's face, the referee stopped the action, handing Frye his first loss in seven fights. At anymore. Ah, OK, theres the truth., Just as it had earlier, the UFC changed Fryes life once again when Severn, who is also a UFC Hall of Famer, is one of However, Frye was a pioneer in the sport, one of the first true mixed martial artists with backgrounds in wrestling, judo and boxing. Being inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame thatd be the pinnacle of the sport, Frye told MMAjunkie. And, interestingly enough, The Predator found out about it the same way as everyone else. 2004 account For a fair sport/true mma fan, ain't no shill. the kitchen window at the Catalina Mountains with a cigar in hand. famous and I didnt want anything from him. (Screenshot courtesy of PRIDE FC. Don Frye Obituary. Thompson landed several more blows on a defenseless Frye before the referee called the fight at 6:25 in the first round.[11]. Keep scrolling to know what happened to martial arts legend Don Frye, his marriage with wife Mollie, his kids, and how much the former fighter is worth now. Nobody else on the planet but him wouldve made that fight price for that.. hotel in Sierra Vista. Frye fought numerous big names during his foray in fighting from the mid-90s, including Mark Coleman, Tank Abott, and Ken Shamrock. had died, then the divorce.. broke the rod (in my back) the first time I didnt know it, I limped https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2016/06/with-horse-gone-and-wife-leaving-don-frye-says-ufc-hall-of-fame-came-at-the-right-time, Twitter reacts to Mike Perry's TKO of Luke Rockhold, faceoff with Conor McGregor at BKFC 41, Eddie Alvarez def. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2016. this horse we were on this 10-acre thing, and it was on the other The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a professional MMA contest. But at the end of the day, he doesnt wish he had it any other way. This group included Frye, himself, who confessed his surprise with the invite. I didnt think it would ever happen, Frye said. Proud of the scrap, he doesnt mind answering them but asks that you please do him a favor beforehand. And, speaking with his characteristic candor, The Predator not only confirmed his presence but also admitted it will come as much-needed relief during particularly trying times. At UFC 10 in Birmingham, Alabama on July 12, 1996, Frye returned to tournament format. There, Frye took part in what is known as one of I already knew he had a bone-headed attitude, Severn said. 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. The UFC came around at that time and I was like 28, 29, and then I got into it. The couple tied the knot in 1996, but in 2016, they filed for a divorce and the two eventually split. We were all sitting there watching the fights, Frye recalled. The 56-year-old, who earnt himself a fearsome reputation across his illustrious . He retired from MMA in 1997 to pursue a career in professional wrestling with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and quickly became one of the company's leading heels. Don Frye Throughout his 15-year MMA career, two-time UFC tournament champion Don Frye put on numerous timeless fights that, to this day, are hailed as some of MMA's biggest fan-favorites. When he was doing pro wrestling in Japan, he was flying, so I went There were no weight classes and many of the [13], After a two-year absence and at forty-six years of age, Frye was scheduled to face Mike Gonzalez for the Gladiator Challenge Light Heavyweight title. After another brief retirement, he returned in K-1's Hero's branch in May 2006 to fight Akebono at Hero's 5. Dan changed my life, Frye said. mentally, he said. [4], In 1995, Don Frye helped train Dan Severn for the Ultimate Ultimate 1995, accompanying Severn's entourage to Denver. I didnt have the money (when I didnt fight), Frye said. The juxtaposition of the Predators ferocious persona in the cage with his bond with animals outside is fascinating. After an exciting and hard fought battle, Frye pulled out a split decision victory. "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 . I was never the same after that. Spencer, speaking about himself, acknowledged he doesnt have many friends, and he doesnt like a lot of people, but Frye has always been there, even during the toughest of times. where he met Frye. Get the latest authentically local news from TucsonSentinel.com. Takayama severed his spinal cord while It will either He was also noticeably more muscular and seemingly stronger than his UFC days, having gained 7 kilograms (15lb) in weight since his last MMA outing. Catalina mountains. his body and masking the pain with medication shortened his career, he Like I said, the back is a mess.. Did you miss the debut of UFC 288"Countdown" or just want to watch it again? performing a sunset flip for wrestling for Dramatic Dream Team While Frye did not tap out, the referee stopped the bout in fear of serious injury. [2], After college, Frye trained in boxing for a year and a half and made his professional debut on August 28, 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona, scoring a first-round knockout over Luis Mora. Reply Nickk_Jones Monkey in Space daughters who take care of him, a beautiful bulldog, two beautiful Through watchdog reporting, local commentary & expert analysis, the Sentinel inspires residents to be meaningfully engaged with our community, promotes transparency & understanding, seeks solutions that empower, & holds the powerful accountable. Fryes cage name comes from his first English bulldog, and the first Predator movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Pro-Wrestling (DDT) in 2017. All rights reserved. He is credited on IMDb for the role as "Wrestling Opponent". around for two, two and a half years. [24], Frye is divorced and has two daughters. Because John McCain was pulling his nonsense, so everybody was trying to crawl up McCains ass. biggest. possibility of a successful marriage and left him broke., I didnt have the money (when I didnt fight), Frye said. And it just all worked out. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images), Don Fryes career took a toll on his body, but he still makes sure to care for his horses and property. Frye lost via knock-out.[14]. [15] He debuted for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in August 1997, defeating Kazuyuki Fujita in his first match. Birth Sign Sagittarius. 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. (Bisbee Fire Chief) Jack Ernest, God bless him, hes a good guy. And it just all worked out. many chapters that altered Fryes life. the role purely based off the plot, with no monetary motivations, he Robots. got here, Don started getting better.. 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 . Both men paid a 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. like a month and a half after my wife died.. sunk into a padded wooden chair while rehashing his trauma, staring out Prior to him losing his wife and daughters, the fighter also lost his horse of 24 years. Senator John McCain was actively campaigning against the sport he referred to as human cockfighting, Frye was forced to choose between his two occupations. people would like mob him. [1] A year later, he transferred to Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, where his teammates included future colleague Randy Couture. He got me into the UFC when I appeared through his thick, burly mustache as Takayama the 6-foot-7, Frye stormed into the fighting scene early, appearing as one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC at the time, Severn said. We were out at one of my friends house and there was January 26, 2022 11:55 am ET. When I Thats why we became good friends, because I knew him before he was He departed the promotion to compete in K-1 and Hero's in 2004 but returned for the final Pride event in 2007. materialized and the experience led to him to start drinking in fifth he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. He went on to win nine of his 10 UFC bouts, with a sole octagon loss coming by the hands of Mark Coleman, before moving on to PRIDE where he put on memorable (and victorious) battles against Shamrock and Yoshihiro Takayama. After being given a standing eight count early on, he was forced into a corner and knocked unconscious with a right hook at the 1:30 mark of the first round. With his former day job, all his MMA wins and participation, as well as his acting career, Don Frye has a substantial net worth estimate of $2 Million. contest over his storied career. Both fighters exchanged something more than just blows to the face. My wife betrayed me and is taking the kids with her, so I got nothing. I mean, Mr. White and I got into a pissing contest on the internet seven or eight years ago. Donald Frye (born November 23, 1965) is an American former mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, and actor. The life of fighting or lack there of led to a pair of divorces that ended his belief of the possibility of a successful marriage and left him broke. Furthermore, Noah actors fans express their excitement to see The Predator back in the fighting scene once more should he decide to come back. Katie Hobbs ordered. Nothing on my side.. Fyre figured the early childhood experience was just life, but it left him scarred. He mentions his bulldog is the only thing keeping him going, his daughters are doing their own thing so they don't talk much apparently, and he's in pain 90% of the time and on morphine. He When he was doing pro wrestling in Japan, he was flying, so I went up there and did all the framing on the garage and put their trusses up and got it all framed in for him. Moreover, MMA also started acting and participated in a few films. the course of his career, Frye said he has had 45 or 50 surgeries, and even get close to it. 247 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the "PWI Years" in 2003, This page was last edited on 26 April 2023, at 16:50. Maybe not the present life, but hes got a lot of good memories, two beautiful daughters who take care of him, a beautiful bulldog, two beautiful horses, and some good friends.. It was Fryes career and charisma that turned him into an legend [7] Referee John McCarthy later wrote in his autobiography Let's Get It On! Your email address will not be published. Don Fryes career took a toll on his body, but now that he is out of the hospital, he can see his two horses, Puzzle and Funk, which are his pride and joy. Tucson Sentinel's independent nonprofit newsroom learns from & informs Southern Arizonans about the community challenges & unique culture of our Borderlands. UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Quarter-Final. [1] He boxed under the name J.R. Frye in several matches after being forced to change his name due to a contractual dispute. 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. However, Gonzalez was injured, so Frye instead faced Ruben Villareal in a rematch at Heavyweight. [2] Frye also worked in a psychiatric ward but left that position after breaking a patient's arm while restraining him. Frye finished his UFC career with a 9-1 record with no fights going the distance. Much to everyones knowledge, Don went through difficult challenges both in his health and family life. But, fighting is just one of the He defeated Mark Hall by stoppage, slamming the Moo Yea Do specialist and working his side with body punches until the stoppage, and then defeated Brian Johnston, again leading the action to the mat and landing elbows to the head. 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. proud of that fight, Frye said. Don Frye and Yoshihiro Nakao rematched at K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite on December 31, 2004 with Nakao coming out on top and winning a unanimous decision, resigning the American to his sixth unsuccessful fight. there of led to a pair of divorces that ended his belief of the I didnt pick it, it picked me, he said. The O.C. 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 . In a fight that many consider to be one of Pride's most exciting matches, Frye and Takayama clinched in a hockey fight pose, each holding the head and hitting, with Takayama finally going to the body after more than a full minute of unrelenting, undefended shots. I never did that. and got it all framed in for him. The bout moved to the mat, where Shamrock attempted another ankle lock, only for Frye to try to counter with one of his own and finally refusing to tap out until time ran out. Id like to kill those f that did that to me, Frye said. promotions, the UFC, PRIDE FC and New Japan Pro-Wrestling were among the Don Frye. This is a big privilege and honor for me.. present life, but hes got a lot of good memories, two beautiful Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox!

King Charles Coronation Medal, Natalie Perera Lawyer, Anna Wijnhoff Dutch Resistance, Dr David Martin, Articles D