The Predator : Greatness of Don Frye

Many say Frank Shamrock was the first real Mixed Martial Artist (modern day). In reality it might have been Don Frye, who was the first fighter well versed in wrestling with a good stand up game. He also started ground and pound IMO, Coleman just made it famous. I will never forget meeting an Arizona Fireman in Puerto Rico a few days before UFC 8. He was really nice, seemed old (to a 9 year old me) and I didnt see how he could win the tournament.

UFC 8 : David vs Goliath - the world is introduced to Don Frye in 8 seconds. Thats how long his debut lasted. In a bout that was alot like Tank Abbotts debut (scary, brutal, and fast) Don ran across the cage, cold cocked Thomas Ramirez with a right hand, Ramirez fell into the fence, eyes still open, out cold, Frye hit him 1 or 2 more times and it was over in 8 seconds.

next up was Sam Adkins (an alternate) wearing tye dye pants. It was over in 48 seconds as Frye scored a double leg, and hammer fisted his way to a fast victory.

In the finals it was Don Frye facing Gary Goodridge (who had just elbowned Paul Herrera and beaten Jerry Bohlander in a good fight). This was a good match up on paper and in reality. The two went at it standing trading shots. Frye took it to the ground and began working. After 2 minutes Goodridge tapped out due to positioning. Don Frye the fireman from Arizona had won UFC 8 tournament. The Predator was born.

UFC 9 : Motor City Madness - NOT A TOURNAMENT. Don is facing tough Amaury Bitetti. Don was a huge favorite but Bitetti was game as shit. The fight went dan near 10 minutes before Frye was able to knock Bitetti out.

UFC 10 : The Tournament - First round Frye faces Mark Hall, in another good match that some would call lackluster (not me) the two went back and forth and Hall even had some good moments rocking Frye and getting the match to the ground. But eventually Frye grinded out a KO after 10 minutes.

Next up was Brian Johnston (tough tough fighter), in a great battle that had good stand up action, Frye was able to get Johnston on his back (Brians least favorite place) and was able to get a submission due to strikes.

In the finals Frye is facing Mark Coleman. Greatest match up we could have asked for. In an 11 minute war of attrition, we saw Frye try to keep it standing and Coleman take it to the ground. Coleman was simply to strong and big for Frye and Frye couldnt stay off his back for long. Finally it came, Colemans ground and pound seeled the victory and gave Frye his first MMA loss.

Don Frye is 6-1, he fights in Ultimate Japan next. It is a rematch against Mark Hall, this time it goes faster than last time and Don wins via forearm choke in only 5 minutes.

Ultimate Ultimate 1996 : In the first round Don is facing Gary Goodridge (UFC 8 finals in the first round awesome!). It goes virtually the same way, just lasts longer. 11 minutes into the fight Gary Goodridge tapped due to exhaustion. Here is where the controversy comes in. Mark Hall (an alternate) is facing Frye in the next round. Frye taps Hall in 20 seconds. After the fight Hall comes out and says Frye offered him money to take a quick dive so Frye would be rested for the finals. Hall says Frye never paid him. Nobody knows what really happen but alot of controversy surrounds this fight.

In the finals Don is facing Tank Abbott. Hard to believe how great this fight was in the amount of time that it took place in. In 1:20 seconds, Tank rocked Don, Don rocked Tank, Don ran around the cage, and finally, Don chocked Tank out. Winning Ultimate Ultimate 1996.

Don Frye's 1996 is over, his first year in the sport called MMA. His record is 10-1, has won UFC 8 tournament and the Ultimate Ultimate 1996 as well as being the UFC 10 tournament runner up. Fuck thats impressive. It is also sadly the last time Don Frye ever fought in the UFC. In 1997 Don goes to USWF (Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation) and chokes out Eric Valdez in 30 seconds. It is the last fight for Frye until 2001.

Pride 16 : Beasts from the East - Don is facing Gilbert Yvel, in a close fight that Don was not looking very good in, Yvel gets DQ'd for intentional eye gouging. At 2001's K-1 vs Inoke Don RNC'd Cyril Adibi.

Pride 19: Bad Blood - facing Ken Shamrock, Don and Ken wage in the greatest MMA fight ever IMO, Don destroys Kens rib cage in clinches before being taken down and having his ankle broken. Don crawls to his corner at the end of the round. Don takes the 2nd round IMO, and in the 3rd looks like he is about to finsih Shamrock, he goes for Kens back, and BOOM gets flipped and all of a sudden Kens got the other ankle (and breaks it) Don grabs Kens ankle and they stay dead locked in ankle locks for the remainder of the round. Close CLOSE CLOSE FIGHT Don gets the decision. Neither man is ever the same.

Pride 21 : Demolition - greatest stand up battle EVER. Yoshihiro Takayama and Don wade a war trading hooks in the clinch. So exciting. DOn eventually breaks his will and Takayama is KO'd.

Don's record is 15-1. He will never be the same after the 2 fights I just mentioned.

Pride 23 : Championship Chaos - Don is facing Hidehiko Yoshida. It is clear Don isnt the same IMO and in 5 mintues he is armbarred for his first loss in 6 years.

Pride 26 : Bad to the Bone - Mark Coleman rematch (man Pride was awesome) in a good hard fought 3 rounder, Coleman is the unanimous winner. At Pride Shockwave Gary Goodridge gets revenge and kicks Don into a dream and wins fast.

Don then goes to K-1 and fights in 3 fights, the first is a No Contest due to accidental head but against Yoshihiro Nakao. Don loses a unanimous decision loss to Nakao in a rematch. After not winning in 5 consecutive fights, Don chokes out Chad Rowan in the 2nd round.

KOTC : Predator - Don goes to King of the Cage facing Ruben Villareal. I dont even want to talk about this fight for 2 reasons. 1 a prime Don kills War Path. 2. It was a bullshit decision IMO. The fight was declared a Draw and Don was done with the KOTC.

Don goes back to K-1 and defeats Yammamato and Min Soo Kim in back to back wins for the first time in 4 years (since 2002). Sadly up next for Don was a knockout loss to James the Colossus Thompson. Uggghhh.

In 2008 and 2009 Don fought 4 times even though he is clearly not the same man that we called the Predator. Don beat Bryan Pardoe and Rich Moss as well as 2 losses to Dave Herman and Minowa.

Career record stands at 20-8-1 1 NC. Sad because we never saw him fighting in his prime as he took off from 1997-2001. Still he was one of the first well rounded fighters of the UFC and one of the best fighters ever IMO.

Great retrospect on Donald Fyre. A true great.

The next one should be "The greatness of Bidofthad's hate for Dan The Beast Severn"

only one of these guys is closing in on 100 wins and still giving rookie non hackers the oppurtunity to switch careers while they are still young.

Don vs Takayama

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdVZV1h3Gd8

Don vs Tank Abbott

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/115925/don_frye_vs_tank_abobot/

Don vs Ken Shamrock

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8548358653647444981#


Dons debut vs Ramirez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_jcSe4nCXk

hahaa Dan was actually really really nice guy

we all jsut thought the Beast thing was cheesy

told him he didnt beat Ken at UFC 9 and he just laughed and said I was a true fan, always nice guy

It was interesting people dont realize almost every 1 of these fighters could be shoulder to shoulder just talking or hanging out (withthe exception of Tank)

Dan would jsut take WAAAAAAAYYYYY to long, I would have to pick certain fights for Dans career or else I will be typing for 3 days

I think this might need to be amended to include what further expanded the already great Don Frye, Don's Shark Fight 13 ring side commentary.

Great job Bird!