Don Frye announces retirement
MMA legend Don Frye has decided to retire from active competition at the age of 44 to pursue a career in acting and broadcasting. Frye spoke exclusively to Ringside Report to announce his plans for retirement. “I’m walking away, I just got to the point in my life where. In order to be a professional athlete, it’s a really selfish lifestyle. You’ve got to be one hundred percent dedicated, twenty-four hours a day,” Frye said.
Frye also stated that his family was a primary reason for leaving the fight game, “I looked around, my daughters were nine and ten years old and I figured putting in some time with them before they grow up and move away.” With Randy Couture and Mark Coleman headlining UFC 109 at 46 and 45 years old respectively, there had been rumours of a UFC comeback for Don Frye. Frye put those to rest and stated that no negotiations had even taken place, “Not a one partner, not a one,” he said.
Don Frye will now turn his attention to colour commentary for the Texas-based Shark Fights promotion for ESPN AM 1440. He will begin his duties this Friday night in Lubbock for Shark Fights 8 with a main event of UFC veteran Josh Neer versus Anselmo Martinez. Frye has a 10 show deal to do radio commentary for the Texas-based Shark Fights promotion. “Hell, they’re pretty good ole’ Texas boys, I like em’,” he said of the Shark Fights promotion.
Frye has had several pro wrestling matches in Japan and will soon be returning to Japan for some media appearances and a pro wrestling match as part of Antonio Inoki’s birthday celebrations. Frye noted that he was open to the idea of doing more pro wrestling in Japan but felt there was a lack of interest from the WWE and TNA for him to wrestle in North America. “I don’t think WWE’s interested in me. I made an ass out of myself too many times, badmouthed them too many times. TNA was interested, we had talks and then I made an ass of myself a couple of times and then they weren’t interested in me. So, until I learn how to behave in public I think I’m gonna be doing all my work in Japan.”
Frye competed in his final fight for the Shark Fights promotion in a one-minute TKO loss to Dave “Pee Wee” Herman on September 12, 2009. He began his career by winning the UFC 8 tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 16, 1996 by defeating Sam Adkins, Thomas Ramirez and Gary Goodridge. After winning his first two fights at the UFC 10 tournament on July 12, 1996 Frye suffered his first career loss in the final to Mark Coleman. Frye continued to compete in the UFC and Pride with victories over Gilbert Yvel, Tank Abbott and Ken Shamrock.
Listen to the entire interview on the February 3, 2010 episode of Ringside Report Radio HERE
by David Simon (quotes courtesy of Ringside Report Radio)
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