Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

[Y 2 Jake]

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Pride 21
Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
June 23, 2002​

I was bored last night so I was looking for some sweaty man-on-man violence and I'd totally forgot about this little gem. Frye (Rick Rude-a-like) vs. Takayama. Two pro wrestlers. Inter-promotional of sorts. NOAH & AJPW (I think, possibly New Japan). Possibly the greatest first minute of a fight in the history of MMA, certainly Pride. Better than that shit you see outside the kebab shop.

 

[jmt225]

Definitely one of the funnest fights to watch to ever take place. Hell, even the stare down before hand was priceless.

But yeah... these two beat the living hell out of each other; hockey style really. Takayama's face at the end is unbelievable. He's a tough dude to take so much punishment and keep going for as long as he did.

Speaking of Don Frye though, I am BIG TIME mark for the guy. I don't think there's a word out there that justifies just how awesome the dude truly is, and this fight is proof on why that is so.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Either Takayama has shit punches, or just a really soft face. Frye comes out of it looking absolutley fine.

It was supposed to be Frye vs. Mark Coleman. But he pulled out due to injury. Takayama took the fightat short notice. It was inevitable he'd lose. I might be wrong but I don't think he's ever got a MMA victory.

 

[Frank the Frowner]

This was my first real exposure to MMA. I had followed it a little bit in the 90s, mainly Ken Shamrock, but this was the first match that I watched and my interest became full-fledged as a result. Don Frye is a badass, and the way he destroyed Takayama in this was incredible. It's amazing that just nailing punches like that pretty much just reconstructed his face.