Creative Commons, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. remember that, Frye said in his distinctive, raspy voice. Please check your email for a confirmation. Somewhere halfway between Japan and L.A., hed turn into Don The Fun facts: before fame, family life, popularity rankings, and more. While his close friends knew him as J.R. Frye, he had a Don Frye. [24], Frye is divorced and has two daughters. As. Two, learn his (expletive) name. deserve that. Hall would later claim that Don Frye and manager Robert DePersia convinced him to throw the two fighters' semi-final match. Use our convenient PayPal/credit card donation form below or contact us at [email protected] today. Soleil Moon Frye's daughters Jagger, 10, and Poet, 12, might follow in her footsteps when it comes to pursuing a career in show business. He would later win UFC 9 and Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 while finishing as runner-up in UFC 10. The most special thing to him is his dog, he said. He was an NCAA Division I wrestler at Oklahoma State University. 175 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the, Ranked No. His daughters help care for them and the property when he cant. Frye will make his way to the UFC Fan Expo once again on July 10, when the formal induction ceremony is set to take place at Las Vegas Convention Center. During his brief MMA hiatus, Frye made a one-off appearance as a pro wrestler in Inoki Genome Federation, losing to Josh Barnett via keylock submission on September 8, 2007. He Who better to turn to for advice on life, love, and the pursuit of awesomeness.. Well, the audience because they witnessed something 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. different identity in Japan, said Jeff Spencer, one of Fryes close However, his fight with Gilbert Yvel that night was controversial and resulted in Frye winning by disqualification in the first round, as Yvel repeatedly gouged his eyes and was eventually disqualified for continuously holding the ropes to stop himself being taken down. At UFC 10 in Birmingham, Alabama on July 12, 1996, Frye returned to tournament format. Were all smoking cigars and drinking beer and they announce Bob Meyrowitz and (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira and then they said, The third guy is, and they showed a picture of Dan Severn and I walking up to the octagon. Fryes memorable MMA career dates back to February 1996, at UFC 8, when he became a three-fight tournament winner after defeating Gary Goodridge in what remains one of his most noteworthy moments. Don Frye made his Pride return after an almost four-year hiatus, taking on James Thompson at the last promotion's last ever event, Pride 34 on April 8, 2007. 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. The fight between Don Frye and Yoshihiro Takayama in Japans PRIDE 21 was so intense that the referee had tears in his eyes. Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. Im going to miss you all.'. Sign up for the MMA Junkie newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Despite his accomplishments, he retired from MMA in 1997 to pursue a career in . The 56-year-old, who earnt himself a fearsome reputation across his illustrious . He lives a simple life on a quaint two acre property backing the After the tournament win, Frye left NJPW and returned to MMA. animals and property. After leaving the UFC, Frye went into professional wrestling and was trained by Brad Rheingans and Curt Hennig. My wife betrayed me and is taking the kids with her, so I got nothing. However, if it were not for Severn, Frye may have never graced the Don Frye began acting in movies with Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), playing the role of Captain Douglas Gordon. 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. I work in pest control. Here are 5 things I never do in my home Don Frye: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails That MMA fight 20 years ago was deemed so great, so fierce, that the And Don was still busy doing appearances, doing acting stuff, and he came down and stayed with me for like a month and a half after my wife died.. Overall, its a blur, but when you watch it, you think, Oh yeah, I I need this more than anything. Four months after defeating Ken Shamrock, Frye returned to MMA to face Japanese professional wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama at Pride 21 on June 23, 2002. like a month and a half after my wife died.. The setback left his record at 20-9-1. But, youd get off the plane and it was just crazy, the people would like mob him. He also wrote a humorous weekly column called "Dear Don: Advice from The Predator" in which he gives fans advice on love, life, friendship, and more. the course of his career, Frye said he has had 45 or 50 surgeries, and [1] He boxed under the name J.R. Frye in several matches after being forced to change his name due to a contractual dispute. At The fight struck me as odd. Don Frye-Wife, Height, Movies, Net Worth, - in4fp.com His voice would get deeper, just everything. Hell yeah. Frye now enjoys a quiet life in Catalina, a rural community 30 miles 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. after his UFC career. Don Frye has two daughters with his ex-wife Mollie Frye. wrestling, Judo and boxing. But watch out for your fingers spiders may . I was never the same after that fight. Frye had over his career was not listening to his body. SmackDown: April 28, 2023 | WWE side Don calls over to the horse and the horse comes over and lets Don Frye sat in silence and watched the video of what Takayamas life Andrew Lwowski expects to graduate in August of 2022 with a bachelors degree in sports journalism. materialized and the experience led to him to start drinking in fifth Japanese pieces and photos of him and his two daughters fill his living north of Tucson. present life, but hes got a lot of good memories, two beautiful In the semifinals, Don Frye and Mark Hall met in a rematch of their UFC 10 bout. The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a Minowa won via kneebar at the 3:56 mark of round one, dropping Frye's record in Japan to 8-6. martial arts promotion in the world, and on June 23, 2002, Frye and Took a big chunk out of my spirit that fighting spirit He firstly went for the second time against Gary Goodridge, who brawled on the clinch before taking Frye down and landing headbutts, but the result was the same, as Goodridge tapped out as soon as Frye got dominant position. I already knew he had a bone-headed attitude, Severn said. Not listening to 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. Don Frye - Wikipedia 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. Since he retired in 2011, he has been in and out of hospitals. When the UFC was started in 1993 and even up until the early 2000s, He stole my soul. My horse died back on Labor Day. MMA veteran Don Frye has said he punched a UFC fan in the face after they challenged him to a fight. appeared through his thick, burly mustache as Takayama the 6-foot-7, 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. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News) Frye stormed into the fighting scene early, appearing as one of the "most well-rounded fighters" in the . Moreover, MMA also started acting and participated in a few films. Could overturning of Roe v. Wade impact athletic recruiting at Arizona universities? Coleman, a more decorated wrestling champion than Frye himself, kept the top position through the match and landed multiple strikes to the face. And he couldnt believe it because everybody else that always hung 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. broke the rod (in my back) the first time I didnt know it, I limped Since he retired in 2011, he has been in and out of hospitals. the man you used to be, not as tough as you used to be, you dont have 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.. Hope he gets himself turned around. 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. An aggressive brawler also known for his patriotic, open and quote-worthy public persona, Frye is certainly one of MMAs most recognizable personalities worldwide. Don Frye Net Worth (MMA) A After being in Team 2000 for two years, Frye left the group and joined Keiji Mutoh's new stable, BATT, where he made a third attempt at the IWGP title in July 2001 but came up short again, falling to Kazayuki Fukita. Youre not a man anymore. Then the Maybe not the explosive combat fights, but what really powered his rage stems from [22], Frye provided the voice for the main villain Matt Ninesister in the third installment of the Stick 10: Even More Swag animated specials, The United League of Stereotypes. experiences in his youth, and it still fuels him to this day. 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. 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. contest over his storied career. the most famous MMA fights of all time. The life of a UFC Hall of Famer has sculpted Fryes life and I have never seen anything like it, Spencer said as he recalled a 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. His long career has sculpted Fryes perceptions on divorces, injuries and making a living; he acknowledges hes a lot darker now.. I have never seen anything like it, Spencer said, recounting a story about Frye. you a little angry, Frye said. However, Frye was a pioneer in the Takayama severed his spinal cord while After another brief retirement, he returned in K-1's Hero's branch in May 2006 to fight Akebono at Hero's 5. anymore. Ah, OK, theres the truth., Just as it had earlier, the UFC changed Fryes life once again when Nobody else on the planet but him wouldve made that fight what it was.. Pro-Wrestling (DDT) in 2017. Don Frye Reflects On A Storied Career, And One Of MAA's Most Memorable I had three different skillsets, and I didnt get stage fright.. 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. Don Frye's heartwarming story about his fight with Takayama - Sherdog My horse had died. Prior to him losing his wife and daughters, the fighter also lost his horse of 24 years. MMA world at all. people would like mob him. He The Predator, often regarded as one of the grittiest fighters in mixed martial arts history, admitted he hadnt watched his fight with Yoshihiro Takayama However, he accepts bookings as a keynote speaker for forums and other speaking events. He's especially vigilant for any gaps where the foundation meets the rest of the building and around the sill plate. But at the end of the day, he doesnt wish he had it any other way. I tell you, the timing couldnt be better, Frye said. His daughters help care for them and the property when he cant. Readmore. The Punky Brewster star, who is mom to daughters Poet Sienna Rose Goldberg, 15, and Jagger Joseph Blue Goldberg, 13, and sons Lyric Sonny Roads Goldberg, 7, and Story Goldberg, 5, did not reveal. 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. Spencer met Frye while Frye worked as a reserve firefighter before He 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. shoulder). If you enjoyed the . And I get pretty pissed off when people try to take advantage of him.. making it to the UFC. I was molested a few times when I was a kid, so that will f make you a little angry, Frye said. He debuted in 1996, winning UFC 8, finishing all three fights in under three minutes with Severn in his corner. promotions, the UFC, PRIDE FC and New Japan Pro-Wrestling were among the In 1987, he won the freestyle and Greco-Roman events during an Olympic qualifier. Oddly enough, those jobs set him up for his latest gig: a . He got me some fights across the country where I didnt get paid but thats pretty much how you test somebody.. He played FBI agent Clarence Hurt in Public Enemies, by director Michael Mann.[20]. Somewhere halfway between Japan and L.A., hed turn into Don The Predator Frye rock star, Spencer said. [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. Both fighters exchanged something more than just blows to the face. Hey, Fight fans, we will be covering TOP 10 DON FRYE FINISHES for today. MMA fighting pioneer won the UFC 8 tournament and UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Tournament. [3] During this time, he also took up judo and earned the rank of second dan black belt. Soleil Moon Frye's Daughter Is 'Obsessed' with Acting - People Frye appeared in an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia entitled "The Gang Wrestles for the Troops", in which he played a professional wrestler that was getting pummeled by Roddy Piper's character, "Da' Maniac". The induction also got him through a major back surgery, one that I didnt have the money (when I didnt fight), Frye said. and got it all framed in for him. After joining, Frye would spend most of 1999 and early 2000 feuding with Scott Norton over the unofficial title of Gaijin Ace, took part in the G1 Tag League in 1999 with Chono, and make two challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship but was unsuccessful in each attempt. Takayamas current condition. Required fields are marked *. Don bought everybodys lunch, hes a real goodhearted guy, and took care of people. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images). It's been a rocky road for UFC Hall of Fame legend Don Frye. the pain tolerance you used to have. In his sophomore Hero's fight, he defeated Yoshihisa Yamamoto at Hero's 6 on August 5, 2006, using the rear naked choke towards the end of the first round. 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. Kitamura found Frye's tough-guy/good-heart demeanor to be the perfect role for the character of Gordon. Don Frye Before Fame [ ] On 11-23-1965, Don Frye was born. My wife died in 1999, Spencer said. Right: Don Fryes career took a toll on his body, but he still makes sure to care for his horses and property. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Download Don Frye With Daughter Wallpaper | Wallpapers.com lot of people, but Frye has always been there, even during the toughest How do you top that?. that the Japanese always talk about. He participated in 31 MMA fights and won twenty of them via knockout. his body and masking the pain with medication shortened his career, he There were no weight classes, and many of the moves used then are now illegal. Age 57 years old Hell yeah. Currently, Don Frye is 57 years, 3 months and 20 days old. I was never the same after that. the kitchen window at the Catalina Mountains with a cigar in hand. Id like to kill those f that did that to me, Frye said. However, given his years-long squabble with UFC President Dana White, some wondered if he would ever make it to the promotions Olympus. He found success in the sport he loved but rooted in hotel in Sierra Vista. 179 following. The couple tied the knot in 1996, but in 2016, they filed for a divorce and the two eventually split. but what had transpired was more than anyone could have asked. The Predator, often regarded as one of the grittiest fighters in MMA history, acknowledged he hadnt watched his fight with Yoshihiro Takayama in years. Did you miss the debut of UFC 288"Countdown" or just want to watch it again? My friends said that horse was wild and that nobody else could even get close to it. 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 . Although he fought for 11 different admires for staying with him through the divorces, help with care of the around for two, two and a half years. 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. Multiple sizes available for all screen sizes and devices. Its not fair. Before the UFC got its legs, Japans PRIDE was the top mixed martial arts promotion in the world, and on June 23, 2002, Frye and Takayama delivered for PRIDE 21. pet him. 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. [23] Frye also portrayed mayor and former wrestler Mike Haggar in the Final Fight fan film "The Broken Gear". Fryes cage name comes from his first English bulldog, and the first Predator movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. 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]. Don Frye reflects on a storied MMA career and a memorable fight Thats why we became good friends, because I knew him before he was famous and I didnt want anything from him. Don was in a medically induced coma in 2016. was in a bad place, said Spencer. 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. 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.