Don Frye

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Don Frye
Statistics
Nickname	The Predator
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	219 lb (99 kg/15.6 st)100 Kg
Born	November 23, 1965 (1965-11-23) (age 42)
Fighting out of	Team Frye
Town of birth	Sierra Vista, Arizona
Fighting style	Wrestling
Mixed martial arts record
Wins	19
By knockout	7
By submission	10
Losses	6
Draws	1
No contests	1

Don "The Predator" Frye (born November 23, 1965) is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter, actor, and professional wrestler. Frye rose to fame fighting in early Ultimate Fighting Championship events, winning the UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournaments.

1 Biography
2 Acting
3 Personal life
4 Championships and accomplishments
5 MMA record
6 Footnotes
7 External links

[edit] Biography

Don Frye began wrestling as a freshman in 1984 for Arizona State, where he was trained by fellow future Ultimate Fighting Championship legend, then assistant wrestling coach, Dan Severn. In 1987, he won the freestyle and Greco-Roman events during an Olympic qualifier^[1]. A year later, he transferred to Oklahoma State, where he encountered another future UFC star amongst his teammates: Randy Couture^[2].

[edit] UFC

In 1995, Frye helped train his old friend Dan Severn for the Ultimate Ultimate 1995, accompanying Severn's entourage to Denver. Severn returned the favour in 1996, when he acted as Frye's manager for UFC 8. Fighting three times in one night, Frye dispached all of his opponents in just over three minutes total, winning the tournament with relative ease. However, due to the controversial nature of the event, Frye was barred from both firefighting, his previous occupation in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and from training in the Buena High School gym he had used since his ASU days^[3]. He is considered one of the original "cross trained" MMA competitors who have a background in multiple disciplines. Along with his collegiate wrestling experience, Frye holds a 2nd degree black belt in Judo and a professional boxing record.

Instantly a fan favorite in the UFC, Frye returned at UFC 9 to take a single bout TKO victory over Amaury Bitetti. At UFC 10, Frye returned to tournament format and defeated Mark Hall and Brian Johnston both by TKO. But in the finals for UFC 10, Frye faced his toughest challenge yet - Mark Coleman. Coleman came out on top via TKO after eleven minutes, handing Frye his first loss in seven fights.

Frye would return to his winning ways at U-Japan in November of 1996, taking a submission victory over Mark Hall. Just one month later, Frye entered the UFC's Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournament, held to find the best of the best from past UFC winners and runners up. Frye took wins over Gary Goodridge, and Mark Hall (for the third time), with both wins coming by submission. In the finals of UU 96, Frye faced feared striker Tank Abbott, who landed early devastating shots, opening a cut on Frye's face, and causing swelling but 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. After winning the Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournament, Don Frye retired from the UFC.

[edit] PRIDE FC

In 2001, with Frye still a successful celebrity in Japan, PRIDE Fighting Championships signed The Predator to a multi fight contract. Appearing for the first time in five years, Frye was noticeably bigger, and seemed much stronger. In a controversial bout at PRIDE 16, Frye faced Dutch kickboxer Gilbert Yvel, who repeatedly gouged Frye's eyes and was eventually disqualified for continuously holding the ropes (several bouts later, Yvel was dq'd for punching the referee). Three months later, at K-1's New Years Eve show Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 K-1 vs. Inoki, Frye submitted Cyril Abidi by Rear Naked Choke. Frye returned to PRIDE in February of 2002, facing long-time rival Ken Shamrock at PRIDE 19. After a long, tough battle, Frye pulled out a decision victory. The two hugged after the fight ended, putting an end to their rivalry.

Just four months after defeating Ken Shamrock, Frye returned to face Japanese pro wrestling legend Yoshihiro Takayama at PRIDE 21. 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. 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.

Riding a new wave of popularity, Frye returned at PRIDE 23 to face Japanese Olympic Gold Medalist Hidehiko Yoshida. Taking his first loss since fighting Mark Coleman in 1996, Frye was submitted by Yoshida via armbar in the first round. While Frye did not tap out, the referee stopped the bout in fear of serious injury. Just one month later, Frye fought at the K-1/PRIDE New Years Eve event, PRIDE Shockwave, taking on K-1 Champion Jérôme Le Banner. The match was not a mixed martial arts event as kickboxing rules were followed. It should be noted that Frye had mentioned in an interview prior to the fight that (besides some knee strikes) he had never thrown a kick in his life. Frye's disadvantage was obvious as he couldn't use his wrestling skills and at 1:30 of the first round, for the first time in his career, Don Frye was knocked out.

Frye took seven months off following the loss to Le Banner, and returned at PRIDE 26 to try and avenge his loss to Mark Coleman. In another long battle, Frye lost a unanimous decision to Coleman after three rounds. Another rematch was on tap for PRIDE Shockwave 2003, when Frye faced Gary Goodridge for the third time. In a stunning bout that lasted all of 0:39, Goodridge scored a vicious high kick to the head, knocking Frye out completely. He made his Pride return at PRIDE 34 fighting James Thompson and lost by strikes.

[edit] K-1 & HERO's

In 2004 Frye signed with Japan's K-1 mixed martial arts promotion HERO's, which held both kickboxing and mixed martial arts matches. In K-1 MMA-Romanex, Frye faced Yoshihiro Nakao, but the bout was called a no contest in the first round due to an accidental headbutt. The pair would face off at K-1's New Years Eve show K-1-Premium 2004 Dynamite to settle the score, with Frye ultimately losing a unanimous decision. After another brief retirement, Frye returned in May of 2006 to fight Akebono at K-1 Hero's 5, winning by guillotine choke in the second round.

Just ten days later, in his first appearance in the US since 1996, Don Frye took on Ruben Villarreal in King of the Cage: Predator. After three rounds of what many considered to be a lackluster fight, the bout was ruled a draw. 3 months later he defeated Yoshihisa Yamamoto at K-1 Hero's 6 using the Rear Naked Choke in the end of the first round. In his latest appearance, Frye faced Min Soo Kim at K-1 Hero's 7 and knocked him out with a punch on the second round.

[edit] IFL

In 2007 Frye assembled and is coaching the Arizona based Tucson Scorpions in the International Fight League, but on November 9, 2007 Don announced on TAGG radio, that he and the IFL had parted ways. They were one of four new teams established at the beginning of the 2007 season. 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. However, Don is currently on TAGG radio on fridays on a segment known as "Don Fryedays" which is a follow up to his Dear Don segments from the IFL.

[edit] YAMMA Pit Fighting

On February 8, 2008, Frye announced on TAGG Radio that he would be fighting Oleg Taktarov on the debut card for YAMMA Pit Fighting on April 11 in the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. The fight will be the first fight in YAMMA's Masters Division, a division for fighters over the age of 39. However, he had to withdraw due to an injury sustained whilst drinking^{[citation needed]} and was replaced by UFC 1 entree Pat Smith.^[1]

[edit] Acting

Don Frye began acting in movies with Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), playing the role of Captain Douglas Gordon. 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. The director of the film, Ryuhei Kitamura, mentioned that he wrote the role with Frye in mind since he was a fan of Frye's fighting matches. Kitamura found Frye's tough-guy/good-heart demeanor to be the perfect role for the comic book character of Gordon. Curiously, a prominent character in a Japanese-language film, all of his dialogue was spoken in English.

2005 turned out to be a busy year for Frye as he made several appearances. In Just Another Romantic Wrestling Comedy, he played Rocco Piedra, the father of a wrestling family who dreams on marrying their child off to a famous wrestler. He also appeared in No Rules and starred in Nagurimono. In 2006, he made an appearance in Miami Vice and even lent his voice for The Ant Bully.

Frye is also set to appear in Apparitions: The Darkness (formerly Paper Dolls) and in the up coming Rob Schneider prison comedy Big Stan, along with fellow MMA fighters, Randy Couture and Bob Sapp.

He is also currently set to play Clarence Hurt, a Texas Ranger, in Public Enemies for director Michael Mann.[4]

[edit] Personal life

Frye is married and has two daughters, ages six and five. ^[2]

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

UFC 8 Tournament Champion
Ultimate Ultimate 96 Tournament Champion
tied for fastest Knockout in UFC history (00:08) with James Irvin (fighter) in his victory over Houston Alexander

[edit] MMA record

19 Wins 6 Losses 1 Draw 1 No Contest
Date	Result	Opponent	Method	Event	Round, Time	Notes
26 January 2008	Win	Bryan Pardoe	KO	NLF - Heavy Hands	Round 1, 0:47
April 8, 2007	Loss	James Thompson	TKO (Punches)	PRIDE 34	Round 1, 6:23
9 October 2006	Win	Min Soo Kim	KO (Punch)	K-1's Hero's 7	Round 2, 2:47
5 August 2006	Win	Yoshihisa Yamamoto	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	K-1's Hero's 6	Round 1, 4:52
13 May 2006	Draw	Ruben Villareal	Draw	King of the Cage: Predator	Round 3, 5:00
3 May 2006	Win	Chad Rowan	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	K-1's Hero's 5	Round 2, 3:50
31 December 2004	Loss	Yoshihiro Nakao	Decision (Unanimous)	K-1-Premium 2004 Dynamite	Round 3, 5:00
22 May 2004	NC	Yoshihiro Nakao	NC	K-1 MMA-ROMANEX	Round 1
31 December 2003	Loss	Gary Goodridge	KO (Kick)	PRIDE Shockwave 2003	Round 1, 0:39
8 June 2003	Loss	Mark Coleman	Decision (Unanimous)	PRIDE 26-Bad to the Bone	Round 3, 5:00
24 November 2002	Loss	Hidehiko Yoshida	Technical Submission (Armbar)	PRIDE 23-Championship Chaos 2	Round 1, 5:32
23 June 2002	Win	Yoshihiro Takayama	TKO (Punches)	PRIDE 21 - Demolition	Round 1, 6:10
24 February 2002	Win	Ken Shamrock	Decision (Split)	PRIDE 19 Bad Blood	Round 3, 5:00
31 December 2001	Win	Cyril Abidi	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001-K-1 vs. Inoki	Round 2, 0:33
24 September 2001	Win	Gilbert Yvel	DQ (Holding ropes)	PRIDE 16 Beasts From The East	Round 1, 7:27
20 June 1997	Win	Eric Valdez	Submission (Choke)	USWF 5	Round 1, 0:49
7 December 1996	Win	David L. Abbott	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Ultimate Ultimate 96	Round 1, 1:22	Won Ultimate Ultimate 96 Tournament
7 December 1996	Win	Mark Hall	Submission (Achilles Hold)	Ultimate Ultimate 96	Round 1, 0:20
7 December 1996	Win	Gary Goodridge	Submission (Fatigue)	Ultimate Ultimate 96	Round 1, 11:19
17 November 1996	Win	Mark Hall	Submission (Forearm Choke)	U-Japan	Round 1, 5:29
12 July 1996	Loss	Mark Coleman	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 10 The Tournament	Round 1, 11:34
12 July 1996	Win	Brian Johnston	Submission (Strikes)	UFC 10 The Tournament	Round 1, 4:37
12 July 1996	Win	Mark Hall	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 10 The Tournament	Round 1, 9:22
17 May 1996	Win	Amaury Bitetti	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 9 Motor City Madness	Round 1, 9:30
16 February 1996	Win	Gary Goodridge	Submission (Position)	UFC 8 David vs. Goliath	Round 1, 2:14	Won UFC 8 Tournament
16 February 1996	Win	Sam Adkins	TKO (Cut)	UFC 8 David vs. Goliath	Round 1, 0:48
16 February 1996	Win	Thomas Ramirez	KO	UFC 8 David vs. Goliath	Round 1, 0:08	Holds the record for the fastest Knockout in UFC history. Recently tied by James "The Sandman" Irvin at UFC Fight Night 13.