Don Frye burst onto the UFC scene to win UFC VIII's 8-man tournament, out of no where. He was one of UFC's first "hybrid" fighters, being proficient both, while standing and on the ground. His aggressive fighting style earned him the nickname "The Predator." After a war with Mark "The Hammer" Coleman, which he lost in UFC X, he came right back to win Ultimate Ultimate '96. Then it seems as though he dropped off the face of the earth. Arguably the best NHB fighter was never seen in the UFC again. I called Don on August 21, 1999, after he contacted the FCF corporate headquarters in New York to respond to Ken Shamrock's interview on the last UFC. We also sent him a copy of Ken Shamrock's interview and the short piece on Ken's behavior toward Pat Miletich [at the last UFC], which was featured in the last issue of FCF [July 1999]. His response to it all, Don Frye openly challenges Ken Shamrock to an all or nothing fight, anytime, any place, any where to teach him some manners. This interview is a must read!

FCF: First of all where have you been?
Don Frye: I have been fighting in Japan at New Japan Pro Wrestling. I have been doing that basically since February of '97, when I got my hand out of the cast.

FCF: When did you break your hand?
DF: I broke my hand against Tank Abbott in the Ultimate Ultimate ['96].

FCF: So you have just been doing pro-wrestling since then?
DF: Yeah, I have been doing pro-wrestling and I continue to train with my guys on submission and fighting.

FCF: Why haven't you made an appearance in the UFC since Ultimate Ultimate '96? (Or UFC vs. Coleman)
DF: Basically, what happened, is I broke my hand. I was scheduled to fight [Dan] Severn for the [UFC] Superfight title, but they wouldn't allow me to. The doctors wouldn't clear me because I didn't have enough time after my hand was out of the cast to prepare for the fight. Which was probably a good thing because I ended up breaking my hand, basically a year to the date in '97. And then, like I said, I signed a contract with New Japan and that's where I'm at.

FCF: Did you see Ken Shamrock's interview at the last UFC?
DF: Yeah! [laughs] I sure did! And that's the reason I contacted you all.

FCF: The FCF staff forwarded Ken's interview and the small piece concerning Ken's behavior toward Pat Miletich (UFC Lightweight Champ) that appeared in FCF's last issue. After just reading it, what are your thoughts?
DF: You know that was highly unprofessional of Ken. There's no place for that in any sporting event, especially when no-holds barred fighting has so much trouble as it does. And we're trying to gain respect of the whole sport's world and trying to realize that this is a legitimate sport and we don't have a bunch of jack-asses running around.

FCF: Ken Shamrock has been talking about coming back and fighting in the UFC. Do you want to be the first to fight Ken Shamrock?
DF: Yeah, you damn right! He got on there and started talking all kinds of shit and embarrassed himself, I think, by talking about Dan Gable right there in Iowa. And he opened his mouth, saying that he wants to fight the greatest fighter in the world, and that's me. And that's why I contacted the UFC. And if he wants to do it, then shit, I'll go winner take all!

FCF: That would be a great fight! Everyone, who still remembers you, considers you to be one of the top heavyweights. Do you want to jump back into the UFC and go for the title?
DF: It's a combination of both. I would think that me, being the defending Ultimate Ultimate champion and Ken Shamrock at one time holding the Superfight belt, that would be the logical choice. The belt appears to be vacant.

FCF: Do you have any exclusivity contracts with other organizations that would prevent you from returning from the UFC?
DF: The situation is right now that I do have an exclusive contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, but after watching Shamrock's interview on the UFC, I talked to them and gained approval and permission for one fight in the UFC, and that would be the one against Shamrock.

FCF: Have you spoke with John Perretti and the guys at the UFC?
DF: Yeah, I have contacted Bob Meyrowitz and John Perretti and let them know my feelings. And let them know that I'm interested in taking that fight. And right now, I'm just waiting for them to contact me back.

FCF: Did they mention when this fight could happen?
DF: Hell, I don't care. Whenever they want to put the fight together and Shamrock's got the balls to show up, then I'll fight him.

FCF: So your ready to fight him right now?
DF: Shit yeah! Pardon my language, but heck, I can get off a 30 day drunkenness and fight Shamrock and beat him. Ah, shit, I'll tell you what. I can do both [NHB and Pro-Wrestling]. I don't need to take a year off like Ken's talking. I can do my Pro-Wrestling and I can train to beat Ken Shamrock, five days a week. I'm not trying to be arrogant or be an asshole or anything like that, like a lot of these guys are, but Ken Shamrock's never impressed me. I always thought he was the most over rated guy out there and I'm the most under rated guy out there.

FCF: Are you looking to knock him out?
DF: I'm going to punish him. A knock out's too damn easy. I want him to lay there and think about what the hell he's been doing. What he's done to his father, what he's done to his fans. I want him to think about the crap that he talked about Dan Gable and the people of Iowa, to get a full awareness of the situation. I want him to know that HE IS NOT THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN ON THE PLANET.

FCF: There is definitely a lot of good heavyweights in the UFC. Is there anyone else you would like to fight?
DF: Well there are a lot of good heavyweights in the UFC right now, but the whole situation in the UFC when Ken and I ran it [competed in it], there were two rules, no biting and no eye gouging. Then you'd have a couple of gentleman's rules like no attacking the groin and maybe not kicking out anybody's knee or anything like that. Those things were like an unwritten code of honor. Now there's a handful of rules. And I think that limits my ability, for sure. I'm not sure about Ken's ability. I have never seen him strike with any kind of power or any kind of danger. So I don't think those rules would affect him. I think those rules would help him.

FCF: That leads right into my next question, which is what do you think of the UFC now, as compared to when you competed? You already mentioned how the rules would be detrimental to you.
DF: Well, the rules are a big thing. Rules are a major factor in the whole UFC. Originally, it was supposed to be no-holds barred. The world's toughest competition and the most dangerous thing out there. And they marketed the thing perfectly. And I think that's what ended up hurting them in the long run. Now they've added a bunch of rules to make all the politicians happy, but everybody out there is fully aware that there hasn't been any kind of significant injuries in NHB fighting. I'm was a collegiate wrestler. Hell, I was good. I was average for being a collegiate wrestler. But hell, that was because of the rules. But shit, I'm the top fighter in the world because of the situation that there are no rules, or that there are limited rules. And that plays in to my advantage.

FCF: Have you guys talked about whether you will fight with a 30 minute time limit or under their new rounds system?
DF: Listen, I don't care how they want to do it. Just sign the damn fight!

FCF: So it doesn't matter to you. As long as you guys can step into the ring, you'll fight him anyway?
DF: You damn right! For one thing, I've got a big problem with Ken Shamrock. Personally, because he never finished a tournament and they go around saying "he's the most dangerous man on the planet" or he's the greatest fighter in UFC history. That's a bunch of bullshit! Like I said, the man can't even finish a tournament. He never got past the second round. He only got into the second round once. They had to custom make that Superfight belt for him, you know? Because it's a single fight belt. Also I'm not sure if your aware of the situation with him and his father [Bob Shamrock] and his brother [Frank Shamrock]. Ken shows absolutely no respect to anybody. [Bob, Frank, and Ken are all doing their own thing. Bob started his own gym, Shamrock 2000, and Frank started the Universal Submission Academy and the Alliance] His father, Bob, is a nice man, took Ken up off the street and turned him into something, now Ken just turned right around and bit Bob.

FCF: What do you think of the other Lion's Den fighters?
DF: I think, except for that little drunk leprechaun, Mikey Burnett, they're all a bunch of good fighters. You know Ken and Mikey got up in front of that crowd in Iowa and represented the sport really bad. They said some things that they shouldn't have said. If they're trying to get a rise out of people, there's other ways to do that, rather than trying to insult somebody like Dan Gable, who sacrificed and dedicated his life for a great sport.

FCF: Do you have any yearning to have a rematch with [Mark] Coleman? Or has his recent losses put that out of the picture.
DF: Basically, that put that out of the picture. You know Coleman is a tough fighter, but he's one dimensional, kind of like Shamrock is. Everybody in the world knows that [Frye's loss to Coleman] was a freak situation. I deserved to lose because I didn't train hard for that fight. I took it lackadaisical. I didn't know there was going to be anybody of his quality of a fighter at that event. Basically, I did deserve to get my butt kicked. The difference between me and Coleman was I lost and then I came back and I won. He's lost three in a row.

FCF: Is there anybody specific you would like to fight after Shamrock?
DF: You know, right now Shamrock's the only one. He just really pisses me off. I get no respect for what I've accomplished in the UFC and Shamrock's got this reputation that's unmerited. I don't know who the hell built it up for him, but it's just not there. Or the reputation's there, but he doesn't deserve it. While the UFC kicked me around like a red-headed stepchild and ignored me and ignored everything I've done. So I want to come back and crash their little party. I think that fight would be the most sensible fight that's out there. Me versus Shamrock would be the best money-making fight that they ever had. I got permission from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. I'm putting my career on the line. Everything I've accomplished, I'm putting on the line to fight this guy. Like I said, I'll fight him winner-takes-all! If I were to lose, which I don't see that happening, what would I want $10,000 or $20,000 for, that wouldn't make me happy. I don't want a consolation prize.

FCF: You mentioned that you considered going for the UFC title again. If this fight does go through, and you beat Shamrock, what are your future plans?
DF: I have a two-year contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. New Japan Pro-Wrestling treats me with the utmost respect, that's why I have only asked them for one fight from them. I don't have a complaint in the world, working for them. It's a truly professional organization. And it's got quality people. And I plan on going back, but I plan on going back with a third belt from the UFC.

FCF: You previously mentioned that you are training with some guys. Are you still training fighters?
DF: Yeah, occasionally I will. My big thing is the time commitment. I don't like telling people that I will train them and not be there. I think that's just chicken shit to do that. I've got some quality guys that can step up to the plate and take over for me. Rainy Martinez was in the UFC and he lost. That was in February of '97, but since then he has improved 100%. He's a totally different fighter now. It was my fault because I didn't prepare him properly and I just kind of threw him in there, when he wasn't ready, especially against a top quality opponent like [Jerry] Bohlander. I'll take the blame for that. Anytime one of my fighters lose, it's my fault for not properly preparing them.

FCF: Who else do you have?
DF: I got Rainy and Sam Sotello, Rich Marino, we just picked up a new guy named Jeff, whose kind of built like Tank Abbott. We utilize him for his size. We're just breaking him in. I met some guys last night who want to come out and start training. I don't train people just for their money, I don't take anybody's money. Nobody pays, it's a family. We're very close knit and team oriented. You don't see me walking around with "Team Frye" or "Don Frye's Training Academy" or "The Predator's House" or whatever. [laughs] It's a team effort, everybody's involved, and if one goes down, we all go down.

FCF: Do you have any plans to bring these guys out?
DF: Well, I don't know. I'd like to get Rainy back into it. Like I said, he's improved 100%. Actually, Rainy and I go 50-50 now [when sparring]. Although, we never strike, so would be my advantage if we were to do a real fight. [laughs] There's no hitting in our work-outs. We don't hit each other, we don't head butt or elbow. That's bullshit. I did some training tapes for Panther Productions and said if you walk into a dojo and the sensei's got someone on the ground and somebody else is punching the snot out of the guy, grab your gear and turn around and get the hell out. He doesn't know what he's doing. You don't pull people in and have them get the crap kicked out of them. If your going to throw punches get in the boxing ring. If you want to simulate punches on the ground, use a dummy, you don't use a real person. It's just plain stupid and dangerous. We do submission wrestling 4-5 nights a week and we usually go for 2-3 hours. You should come out sometime and check out one of our workouts.

FCF: Next time I'm up there, I will definitely stop by.
DF: You ought to come check it out. It's a good workout and a good time. All my guys are good people. Nobody's out there for themselves, it's a family.

FCF: Is there anything else you would like to add?
DF: Well I was just sitting down watching UFC 9, the "Detroit Dance," Severn and Shamrock. That's just an embarrassment! There was one time in there where there was eight and a half minutes where neither one of them even touched each other. That right there was probably one of the worse things that could have happened to NHB fighting. I always called it the "Detroit Dance" because that's all they did, dance around. Whenever I get insomnia, I watch UFC 9 and it puts me right to sleep. My theory, the way I fight, is that I engage. I just engage my enemy. If Shamrock thinks he's going to dance [when he's in there with me], he's in sorry shape. I don't like to come off arrogant, and pompous and cocky, but it just gets my goat that Ken Shamrock is getting this reputation and all those accolades for something he doesn't deserve. He was highly unprofessional in his conduct in front of the TV and behind it [see FCF's last issue]. He made an ass out of himself in front of a lot of people and that's what gives our sport a black eye. And we've got enough black eyes. What we need is quality representation and Ken Shamrock is just not that. He can't do an interview to save his life. He can't put a sentence together. He only speaks in mono-syllables. The guy is stupid. On top of being stupid, I don't see him fighting either. If you look at UFC 8, he walks in there with big basketball socks. Geez, you talk about looking like a clown, he should have had a red nose on. I just want to make sure there's no liability factors in this interview that Ken can after me with an attorney and sue me rather than climb into the damn ring and fight me. I'll tell you something else, he's leaning over the fence in the octagon and talking all kinds of crap to Tito Ortiz. And then, he wants to challenge Bas Rutten. He's hell on wheels with these guys who are 40lbs lighter than him. Why doesn't he fight somebody his own damn size. The main change I'm looking to make for this event is, you know Ken and his dad, Bob, are not talking, they've separated. To me it sounds like Bob Shamrock is an independent contractor, so I'm looking to hire him.

FCF: So you would fight under Bob Shamrock?
DF: Yeah, I'll have Bob in my corner. I want him to be fully aware of that. I want the whole world to know that he treats his dad like crap, somebody who did so much for him.

FCF: Thanks Don.
DF: Thank you.