Don Frye blended new-school charisma with old-school toughness. | Photo: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com
Don Frye
“The Predator” Ultimate Fighting Championship (1996, 1996); U-Japan (1996); United Shoot Wrestling Federation (1997); Pride Fighting Championships (2001, 2002-03, 2007); Inoki Genome Federation (2001); K-1 (2004-06, 2006); King of the Cage (2006); No Limit Fighting (2008); Deep (2008); Shark Fights (2009); Gladiator Challenge (2011)
***
With his distinct mustache and outspoken personality, Frye is one of MMA’s most colorful characters. He could also more than back it up in the cage, where he was one of the sport’s toughest and most determined competitors. “The Predator” was dominant in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, winning two tournaments, UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 1996, while coming in second in a third, UFC 10. After a foray in Japanese pro wrestling, he resumed his MMA career in Pride Fighting Championships. His win over Ken Shamrock was a classic grudge-match brawl, and he somehow managed to top it months later when he fought Yoshihiro Takayama. The two fighters charged right for each other and just started swinging, leading to one of the craziest fights in MMA history. Fights like that made him a beloved figure in Japan, where he appeared in movies and television commercials playing off his MMA fame.
Continue Reading » Masakatsu Funaki