By: Adam Villarreal
Since the beginning of our beloved sport of MMA, we have seen greats come in and out of the cage or ring with such fierce desire and determination for winning that it made the sport one of the most feared and talked about entities of it’s time. From names like Gracie, Severn, Abbott, and Shamrock the sport grew and grew until it became the staple in the “legitimate” sports world that we see today. Sure there are rules now and even merchandising that is starting to rival that of other sports, but one thing that remains the same through time is the heart of these champions.
In May of 2006, the sport of mixed martial arts witnessed one of the most anticipated comebacks of it’s time when Royce Gracie came back to go against the then UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes. Despite the outcome, Gracie proved that his heart was still same as when he entered the cage in UFC 1 in November of 1993. Since then and even before, we’ve seen early MMA fighters like Ken and Frank Shamrock, Dan Severn, and others still comeback and fight for their own personal reasons thus proving that it’s never too late to reenter a sport that they themselves helped build.
With that illustrious list of names, we can now add Don “The Predator” Frye to the list. Realizing that Frye has fought as recently as this year, we use the word comeback not loosely, but for a lack of a better word. Since we’ve last seen him fight in PRIDE, Don has undergone shoulder surgery and will be soon ready to reenter the sport with his sights set high on the top MMA names today. I was lucky enough to get a few words with Don and here’ what he had to say about the life, family, and his future in mixed martial arts…
MMA Worldwide: At this point in your career, what drives you, money or competition?
Don Frye: It’s both, but at this point it would have to be money. You know I achieved a lot already and I’m focused on making a future for my children. All the money I make goes for them and their futures. But if I fought someone like Fedor Emelianenko, then it would be about the competition. He’s the level of competition that I desire.
MW: What do you like best about being a father?
DF: I like seeing my kids laugh and smile. I love seeing them happy and they are; they’re healthy thank God and that’s the most important thing.
MW: What’s been your greatest accomplishment in your athletic career?
DF: I would say doing Antonio Inoki’s retirement match in Japan for 75,000 people at the Tokyo Dome. They sold out 70,000 seats and sold another 5,000 in standing tickets for that event. Then I wrestled against The Great Muto for the World Championship in The Tokyo Dome again and we sold it out and then again with Kensuke Sasaki.
MW: Is acting something you see yourself spending more time on?
DF: Yeah (laughs) but I don’t know if anyone else is interested in me!
MW: How did your first acting job come about?
DF: Hell, I can’t really remember but one of them was in a movie called “No Rules”. Randy Couture called me up it and told me about it then ended up getting me a little spot in it. Randy and I have been bumping in and out of each other’s lives for the last 20 years or so and he was nice enough to include me.
MW: What’s your current IFL status?
DF: Am no longer with the IFL. We’ve come to a mutual agreement that I shouldn’t be a coach there anymore. I’m just not the coddling, caring, or congenial type of person they need to be a coach. They thought I was too rough on my guys and too impolite to the public. They think I don’t conduct myself in a “professional” manner. I went my way and they went their way and it’s for the best.
MW: I understand a comeback is on the horizon, what organizations are you most interested in fighting for?
DF: I don’t have an organization that I’m fighting for yet and after I get my shoulder rehabbed, I’ll get back in to the cage or the ring. I’m open to anyone organization right now and am open to negotiate.
MW: Do you have any thoughts on competitors you want to face?
DF: I’ll fight anyone they put in front of me; otherwise I want to fight Fedor. If I can’t get Fedor, then I want Randy Couture. Randy’s a good person and a great athlete, one of the greatest actually and that’s why I have this career, so I can compete against the greatest. He and Fedor are the two top guys on my list.
MW: What do you say to those who say you’re too old to fight?
DF: I say prove it to me. Get in the ring/cage and prove it. If they can whoop my ass then maybe I’ll believe it, but until then don’t sit around and mouth off, because until they can whoop my ass, I wont believe a damn thing they say and neither should the fans!
MW: Who are your sponsors?
DF: I don’t have any right now and to be honest I’ve never really had one before. I’m open to review offers and with the comeback that I’m working on, I’m sure me teaming with a sponsor could be a great thing for both sides.
MW: What do you think about all the big name sponsors like TapouT?
DF: Well I’ve never seen the TapouT reality show but it seems like they got where they are by virtue of hard work. They weren’t just sitting on their asses like a lot of this country does waiting for a freebie. They worked hard and put themselves where they wanted to be and where they should be. I’m not a fan of theirs and I’m not kissing their ass or anybody else’s by saying all of this, I’m saying it because they worked hard and earned it.
MW: What are your thoughts on M-1?
DF: They need to sign me because they have Fedor! That’s who I want!
MW: What are your thoughts on the Randy Couture “saga”?
DF: I think it’s a great thing that he left. When you’re the heavyweight champion, you should be the number one paid guy, no question about it. And as far as the competition (or lack thereof) for Randy, they should’ve given him the names he wanted.
MW: When it’s all over, what do you most want to be remembered for?
DF: I just want to be remembered for being a good husband and a good dad. I also want to be known for keeping my word in everything I did and being a great American.
MW: What can we expect from you in 2008?
DF: My comeback, and major comeback. A world championship; maybe two or three!
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