Sherdog’s Top 10: Pride Fights

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7. Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
Pride 21
June 23, 2002 | Saitama, Japan

A man who engaged an ungodly number of thrilling wars, Frye did what he does best with hulking Japanese fighter Takayama: He went toe-to-toe with him. Frye nailed Takayama with two sizzling right hands and forced a clinch; and from there, one of the most iconic exchanges in Pride history unfolded. The two heavyweights each grabbed behind the other’s head with his left hand and then unloaded what seemed like a thousand rights to the face. They tore into each other until they wandered into a corner.

For the next six minutes, the two men would drop bombs on one another in between gasps of air. Frye landed the heavier punches -- and more of them -- until Takayama’s face was a swollen, gruesome mess. After being buckled by two killer uppercuts, Takayama tried bringing his foe to the canvas, only to slip on the way down. Frye landed in mount and proceeded to make him pay by doling out as many lefts and rights as he could until the referee mercifully stopped it.

Number 6 » Rua vs. Nogueira