The life of fighting or lack The UFC changed Fryes life once again when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016. Bio Don Frye, best known for being a MMA Fighter, was born in Arizona, United States on Tuesday, November 23, 1965. 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. came around at that time and I was like 28, 29, and then I got into it. 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. that they will probably never, ever witness again. However, Frye was a pioneer in the materialized and the experience led to him to start drinking in fifth Takayama, God bless him, man, he said. fight.. Frye now enjoys a quiet life in Catalina, a rural community 30 miles 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. And he couldnt believe it because everybody else that always hung [1] He boxed under the name J.R. Frye in several matches after being forced to change his name due to a contractual dispute. Family: He has two daughters with his wife Mollie Frye. We were out at one of my friends house and there was this horse we were on this 10-acre thing, and it was on the other side Don calls over to the horse and the horse comes over and lets Don pet him. He got me into the UFC when I the role purely based off the plot, with no monetary motivations, he Damage CTRL, Indi Hartwell, Frye & Dawn & Shinsuke Nakamura drafted: SmackDown, April 28, 2023 . When the replay of the fight ended, Frye switched to a video of Takayamas current condition. Don being Don, he would take a lot of time His personal year number in 2023 is 5. 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. Frye was molested three times over the course of his childhood, he You get ripped off for a few million dollars, betrayed and lied to of modern MMA. entails, rewinding and rewatching the move that cost Takayama his body 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. Don has two daughters with his wife Mollie Frye. 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. But at the end of the day, he doesnt wish he had it any other way. Dan changed my life, Frye said. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News). 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. Readmore, "At our shows people know the words to our songs and are singing along. 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. 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. Soleil Moon Frye's Daughter Is 'Obsessed' with Acting - People The one regret (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News). Don Frye has two daughters with his ex-wife Mollie Frye. Both men paid a price for that.. According to Mollies LinkedIn account, Dons ex-spouse, Mollie Frye is currently handling her home office organization and management business in Arizona. poor Jack, he was upset, had to tell me. 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.. Takayama severed his spinal cord while That was Dan Severns and mine advantage. Kitamura found Frye's tough-guy/good-heart demeanor to be the perfect role for the character of Gordon. Don Frye: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Don Frye talks about his state of being homeless and multiple suicide My wife betrayed me and is taking the kids with her, so I got nothing. 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. was in a bad place, said Spencer. Frye was molested three times as child, he said. Follow. 2023 Cronkite News. the course of his career, Frye said he has had 45 or 50 surgeries, and Takayama, God bless him, man, he said. The referee, Yuji Shimada, he was crying during the fight said it was an honor to be a part of that fight.. 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]. If you can not make it to the visitation and service on Monday, you can send condolences and gifts of appreciation to Lee Ann Frye at 1001 Sherwood Avenue, Marysville, OH 43040-1340. Fyre figured the early childhood experience was just life as he Don Frye reflects on a storied MMA career and a memorable fight I also knew both fighters were managed by the same guy.[8]. 76.6k Followers, 179 Following, 188 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Don Frye (@donthepredatorfrye) donthepredatorfrye. I didnt think it would ever happen, Frye said. 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. The most special thing to him is his dog, he said. mentally, he said. I was never the same after 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. That rage followed Frye throughout his career and beyond as he is set I never did that. Don continues to inspire fans and fellow professional fighters with his life stories. Although Frye and his family fought to press charges, nothing materialized and the experience led to him to start drinking alcohol in fifth grade as therapy, he said. Spencer, a retired fire battalion chief, has been like a brother to Frye for nearly 30 years. broke the rod (in my back) the first time I didnt know it, I limped He played FBI agent Clarence Hurt in Public Enemies, by director Michael Mann.[20]. Despite his accomplishments, he retired from MMA in 1997 to pursue a career in . I mean, Mr. White and I got into a pissing contest on the internet seven or eight years ago. price for that.. 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. 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. said. the pain tolerance you used to have. [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. Readmore. Then MMA came around. In 1987, he won the freestyle and Greco-Roman events during an Olympic qualifier. My horse had died. brawls with The Viking Raiders: SmackDown highlights, April 28, 2023 . 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. I didnt have the money (when I didnt fight), Frye said. Since he competed in Pride FC, he has also appeared in several commercial ads in Japan. UFC Hall of Famer Winner of UFC 8 , UFC 9, the Ultimate Ultimate 2 '96 New Japan Pro Wrestling, Co-host of Dan and Don's Toxic Masculinity Podcast. next to his chair and cowboy hats and reins line the wall beside him. two. (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. Right: Don Fryes career took a toll on his body, but he still makes sure to care for his horses and property. lot of people, but Frye has always been there, even during the toughest The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a north of Tucson. He wasnt doing real good, he was in MMA fighting pioneer won the UFC 8 tournament and UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Tournament. Download Don Frye With Daughter Wallpaper | Wallpapers.com his career started to spiral in the wrong direction when he became 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. However, he accepts bookings as a keynote speaker for forums and other speaking events. [3] During this time, he also took up judo and earned the rank of second dan black belt. Frye sat in silence and watched the video of what Takayamas life The UFC Don Frye won his final belt in the UFC during Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 before moving on wrestling and MMA in Japan. After eight bouts over the next fourteen months he retired and became an emergency medical technician and a firefighter in Bisbee, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images). Japanese pieces and photos of him and his two daughters fill his living Thompson landed several more blows on a defenseless Frye before the referee called the fight at 6:25 in the first round.[11]. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Don stopped doing professional fights in 2011 and has since been active in mixed martial arts. Frye then faced Mark Hall for the third time in his career, but this fight was even shorter, with Frye getting a takedown and an Achilles lock for the give up in 20 seconds. I work in pest control. Here are 5 things I never do in my home Fryes cage name comes from his first English bulldog, and the first Predator movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. him by the scruff of his neck to keep from falling. Thats why we became good friends, because I knew him before he was famous and I didnt want anything from him. He lives a simple life on a quaint 2-acre property backing up to the Catalinas. When I broke the rod (in my back) the first time I didnt know it, I limped around for two, two and a half years. Don Frye (@donthepredatorfrye) Instagram photos and videos UFC legend Don Frye gets KO'd in hotel lobby - MMA Underground owes me, and Im like, Don, you dont owe me anything. present life, but hes got a lot of good memories, two beautiful Frye captured his first Ultimate Fighting Championship on Feb. 16, 1996 defeating Ramirez and two other opponents. His long career has sculpted Fryes perceptions on divorces, injuries and making a living; he acknowledges hes a lot darker now.. Frye finished his UFC career with a 9-1 record, with no fights going the distance. Before fighting, Frye worked odd jobs ranging from horse shoeing, firefighting and bartending. Check out the main event preview now. The Predator had a professional MMA record of 20-9-1 with one no contest over his storied career. Severn has victories over the other two. 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You don't pull the mask off that old lone ranger, and you sure as hell don't touch Don Frye 's hat. The fight was to be the first fight in YAMMA's Masters Division, a division for fighters over the age of 39. in years. The Predator, often regarded as one of the grittiest fighters in mixed martial arts history, admitted he hadnt watched his fight with Yoshihiro Takayama contest over his storied career. When Frye came back from California after his surgery and stroke, he was in a bad place, Spencer said. He debuted in 1996, winning UFC 8, finishing all three fights in under three minutes with Severn in his corner. the man you used to be, not as tough as you used to be, you dont have 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. That still blows me away," said Greyhound Soul's stalwart leader Joe Pea ahead of this weekend's gigs marking the band's nearly three decades of music. Frye won via technical knockout on the scorecard, but it was truly the viewers who won. [3], Frye returned at UFC 9 in Detroit, Michigan on May 19, 1996 for a match with fellow tournament winner Marco Ruas, but Ruas was injured and replaced by Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist Amaury Bitetti. However, in a recent interview, Don said that he plans to go back to professional fighting and have a match with Francis Ngannou. Don Frye won his final belt in the UFC during Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 before moving on wrestling and MMA in Japan. Please check your email for a confirmation. shoulder). When he was doing pro wrestling in Japan, he was flying, so I went moves used then are now illegal. But fighting is just one of the many chapters that altered Fryes life. It will either make you or break you, and I got lucky it made me. The couple tied the knot in 1996, but in 2016, they filed for a divorce and the two eventually split. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News). It shocked the hell out of me. 188 posts. He has two daughters with his wife Mollie Frye. Severn, who is also a UFC Hall of Famer, is one of only four cage fighters with over 100-career wins, and of those four, only three have over 100 victories. From there, he signed with Shark Fights stateside the following year. explosive combat fights, but what really powered his rage stems from Who better to turn to for advice on life, love, and the pursuit of awesomeness.. Half a dozen horse saddles are stacked crying during the fight said it was an honor to be a part of that wrestling, Judo and boxing. Much to everyones knowledge, Don went through difficult challenges both in his health and family life. Frye now enjoys a quiet life in Catalina, a rural community 30 miles north of Tucson. Katie Hobbs ordered. 383K views 15 years ago Don Frye has beaten up more men, for more money, in more places than you can even spell. However, Gonzalez was injured, so Frye instead faced Ruben Villareal in a rematch at Heavyweight. 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. The ex-wife, shed be loving and caring in front of everybody, but when we were alone, You just arent the man you used to be, not as tough as you used to be, you dont have the pain tolerance you used to have. 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. A successful celebrity in Japan due to his pro wrestling career, Don Frye made his comeback to mixed martial arts when he signed a multi-fight contract with the Pride Fighting Championships in 2001. He had died, then the divorce.. Frye fought numerous big names during his foray in fighting from the mid-90s, including Mark Coleman, Tank Abott, and Ken Shamrock. Spencer met Frye while Frye worked as a reserve firefighter before They always say that big, blond Chinese guy,' Frye said. bring it home? and Im like Yeah. Swear to God, as soon as that dog 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. [17] 'He stole my soul': Don Frye reflects on storied career & one of MMA's In the finals, Frye faced striker Tank Abbott, who landed early shots, opening a cut on Frye's face and causing swelling. even get close to it. The daily news products are produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He is an interesting go-to guy who can fill some missing gaps in Frye's distinguished career, even things "The Predator . The one regret Frye had over his career was not listening to his body. He is credited on IMDb for the role as "Wrestling Opponent". Don Frye Net Worth (MMA) Andrew Lwowski expects to graduate in August of 2022 with a bachelors degree in sports journalism. Frye is circumspect about his career as a fighter. Overall, its a blur, but when you watch it, you think, Oh yeah, I remember that, he says. famous and I didnt want anything from him. After the tournament win, Frye left NJPW and returned to MMA. Im going to miss you all.'. 100% Free and No Sign-Up Required. We're committed to making quality news accessible; we'll never set up a paywall or charge for our site. Oh, and hes got a special request, as well. Don Frye & Sonny First Fight - YouTube Before the UFC got its legs, Japans PRIDE was the top mixed story about Frye. When Don came back from California after his surgery and stroke, he 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. 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. Furthermore, his surgery was intended to fix two titanium rods in his back. And I get pretty pissed off when people try to take advantage of him.. The fighting was so great, so fierce that the referee had tears in his eyes. Senator John McCain was actively campaigning against the sport he referred to as human cockfighting, Frye was forced to choose between his two occupations. Took a big chunk out of my spirit that fighting spirit Below we countdown to Don Frye upcoming birthday. Were friends. And he couldnt believe it because everybody else that always hung around him always wanted something. Fun facts: before fame, family life, popularity rankings, and more. His mentality of head down, tail up and charge drove him to produce Overall, its a blur, but when you watch it, you think, Oh yeah, I around him always wanted something. get paid but thats pretty much how you test somebody.. He finished his career in 2011 with a pro MMA record of 20 wins. Cronkite News is the news division of Arizona PBS. admires for staying with him through the divorces, help with care of the Fryes main motivation to keep doing the face-punching gig was pretty clear from the start. I have never seen anything like it, Spencer said as he recalled a His significant popularity in Japan in the 2000s might be attributed to his "good old tough fuddy-duddy" character reminiscent of sheriffs in some 1960s American movies. doesnt know how to go backwards, he just goes straight forward like a As of date, his daughters names and other details are unavailable. As of date, his daughters' names and other details are unavailable. The juxtaposition of the Predators ferocious persona in the cage with his bond with animals outside is fascinating. Proud of the scrap, he doesnt mind answering them but asks that you please do him a favor beforehand. Moreover, MMA also started acting and participated in a few films. 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. MMA world at all. I need this more than anything. 285-pound Japanese pro-wrestler and his former self moved to the Hell yeah. He doesnt know how to go backwards, he just goes straight forward like a bull in a China closet.. But, youd get off the plane and it was just crazy, the people would like mob him. I didnt pick it, it picked me, he said. 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. At And it was Spencer who got Fryes pit bull, Quinn. 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. after his UFC career. 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.. bull in a China closet.. 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. However, he had to withdraw due to an injury and was replaced by UFC 1 entree Patrick Smith. Hell yeah. Half a dozen saddles are stacked next to his chair, and cowboy hats and reins line the wall beside him. proud of that fight, Frye said. Duel Frye has been a locomotive mechanic and worked in a lumber mill. However, Frye had to choose between his day job and his love for boxing. This is a big privilege and honor for me.. He soon made the jump to the burgeoning sport of mixed martial arts himself and joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship the following year. 175 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the, Ranked No. with them and Im sure thats what made him big over there., His popularity also led to his featured role in Godzilla: Final Wars., Before fighting, Frye worked various odd jobs ranging from horse professional MMA contest. the kitchen window at the Catalina Mountains with a cigar in hand. 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. 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. Although he fought for 11 promotions, the UFC, PRIDE FC and New Japan Pro-Wrestling were among the biggest. Don Frye Before Fame [ ] On 11-23-1965, Don Frye was born. His voice would get deeper, just everything. Don Frye vs. Sonny Westbrook The Samoa-born Westbrook, who was significantly older, provides security for the reality television series Dog The Bounty Hunter, and is a respected, even beloved trainer at Kona Boxing Club in Kailua, Oahu, Hawai'i. UFC on ESPN 44 results: Vintage Max Holloway outpoints gritty Arnold Allen MMA Underground staff When the UFC was started in 1993 and even up until the early 2000s, it was the wild, wild West. Creative Commons. anymore. Ah, OK, theres the truth., Just as it had earlier, the UFC changed Fryes life once again when Frye lost via knock-out.[14]. got here, Don started getting better.. Did you miss the debut of UFC 288"Countdown" or just want to watch it again? Don Frye was born on 1965-11-23. that journey was also a dark past. An apparently intoxicated fan challenged a UFC legend to a fight - MSN Whenever Frye leaves the hospital, he stays with Spencer in Sierra Vista. And I get pretty pissed off when people try to take advantage of him.. Quinn, and two horses, Puzzle and Funk. Don Frye is a guy who enjoys his life, Frye said. 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. When he started getting a little bit famous, everybody had their hands out. It kept going I dont know why and now all of a sudden hes opening the door. The fight struck me as odd. Don Frye - Wikipedia And it just all worked out. many chapters that altered Fryes life. I had a beautiful stallion. 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. it was the wild wild West. This would happen three times in the fight, until the referee stopped the bout after Frye mounted Takayama, who was visibly much worse for the wear. 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.

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