[25], For the professional wrestler who also used the ring name "The Predator", see, Later career and sporadic comebacks (2007present), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (19972002, 2004). I never did that. However, Gonzalez was injured, so Frye instead faced Ruben Villareal in a rematch at Heavyweight. 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. In 1987, he won the freestyle and Greco-Roman events during an Olympic qualifier. There were no weight classes, and many of the moves used then are now illegal. Before fighting, Frye worked odd jobs ranging from horse shoeing, firefighting and bartending. Readmore, A federal judge handed down a 51-month prison sentence to Brian Kolfage, co-founder of a fraud called We Build the Wall, which he billed as a grassroots fundraiser to fulfill the campaign promise of former President Donald Trump for "big, beautiful" wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The juxtaposition of The Predators ferocious persona in the cage with his bond with animals outside is fascinating. there of led to a pair of divorces that ended his belief of the Deep, GeneTunney7 and 15 others like this. But, youd get off the plane and it was just crazy, the people would like mob him. The one regret Throughout his 15-year MMA career, two-time UFC tournament champion Don Frye put on numeroustimeless fights that, to this day, are hailed as some of MMAs biggest fan-favorites. pet him. Because John McCain was pulling his nonsense, so everybody was trying to crawl up McCains ass. I had a beautiful stallion. He jumped on My horse had died. 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. When he started getting a little bit famous, everybody had their hands out. The year 2005 turned out to be a busy year for Frye as he made several appearances. Hall would later claim that Don Frye and manager Robert DePersia convinced him to throw the two fighters' semi-final match. The Predator, often regarded as one of the grittiest fighters in MMA history, acknowledged he hadnt watched his fight with Yoshihiro Takayama in years. One, hes Japanese. Don Frye on the Hardest He Was Ever Hit: It'd Have to Be Tank Abbott about five or seven on this (left shoulder), about five on this (right 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. He participated in Godzilla: Final Wars, Miami Vice, and No Rules. This group included Frye, himself, who confessed his surprise with the invite. materialized and the experience led to him to start drinking in fifth kicker was when she says, I dont think you can provide for the family Don being Don, he would take a lot of time 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. Don Frye-Wife, Height, Movies, Net Worth, - in4fp.com He has two daughters with his wife Mollie Frye. Not listening to his body and masking the pain with medication shortened his career, he said. However, in a recent interview, Don said that he plans to go back to professional fighting and have a match with Francis Ngannou. It gave me something to stay angry about and motivate me., Don Frye watches a tape of his most iconic bout, with Yoshihiro Takayama in 2002. 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." 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 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. Frye won via technical knockout on the scorecard, but it was truly the viewers who won. The former mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, and actor married entrepreneur, Mollie Frye. He stole my soul. like a month and a half after my wife died.. [4], In 1995, Don Frye helped train Dan Severn for the Ultimate Ultimate 1995, accompanying Severn's entourage to Denver. 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. That rage followed Frye throughout his career and beyond as he is set Don Frye Reflects On A Storied Career, And One Of MAA's Most Memorable 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.. Multiple sizes available for all screen sizes and devices. 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. MMA fan risks life in confrontation with Don Frye - MMA Junkie biggest. He participated in 31 MMA fights and won twenty of them via knockout. He is an interesting go-to guy who can fill some missing gaps in Frye's distinguished career, even things "The Predator . I never did that. I dont think I fought in the UFC until I was 30.. Cronkite News is the news division of Arizona PBS. After another brief retirement, he returned in K-1's Hero's branch in May 2006 to fight Akebono at Hero's 5. Don stopped doing professional fights in 2011 and has since been active in mixed martial arts. [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. Don bought everybodys lunch, hes a real goodhearted guy, and took care of people. 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 course of his career, Frye said he has had 45 or 50 surgeries, and Don bought everybodys lunch, hes a real 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. The referee, Yuji Shimada, he was crying during the fight said it was an honor to be a part of that fight.. Spencer met Frye while Frye worked as a reserve firefighter before I didnt pick it, it picked me, he said. It kept going I dont know why and now all of a sudden hes opening the door. 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. Ever since Severn coached him at ASU, he knew Frye would do well. When the UFC was started in 1993 and even up until the early 2000s, it was the wild, wild West. Par about tracking down and killing pedophiles, he said. making it to the UFC. 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. people would like mob him. something more than just blows to the face. He would later win UFC 9 and Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 while finishing as runner-up in UFC 10. the most famous MMA fights of all time. 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. So, if you see Frye around Las Vegas during International Fight Week, be sure to shake the mans hand and let him know you appreciate what he accomplished during his legendary career. [17] Don Frye Net Worth (MMA) My horse died back on Labor Day. How do you top that?. I already knew he had a bone-headed attitude, Severn said. Who better to turn to for advice on life, love, and the pursuit of awesomeness.. 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.