When Don Frye talks, not enough people listen

Frye is a true pioneer in the MMA world. He has fought for over 13 years for almost every big promotion on the planet including seven times each for the UFC and Pride. But what makes Frye even more appealing to the fans are his colorful opinions. He has expressive thoughts on everything – from fighting to pro wrestling to movies to people’s love lives. There’s nothing that Don Frye can’t help someone with.

Recently, Frye also appeared in the movie Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Movies are something he wants to make a bigger part of his life, but he still plans to remain active in the MMA ring.

We recently had a chance to sit down with Don Frye to talk about his performance in Public Enemies, what’s next for his fighting career, his thoughts on the controversial fight with Gilbert Yvel, and much more.

Question: What do you think of the movie Public Enemies?

Don Frye: I thought the movie was fantastic. I placed Clarence Hurt – a Texas Ranger. I worked for Steven Lang. Lang is obviously my boss – oh wait, I just said that. I run around and basically shoot people. I loved it. I didn’t have to do anything. With Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, and Steven Lang in it, I was – heck – just eye candy.

Q: How do you like being in movies?

DF: It’s an easier living than getting punched in the face. I can tell you that.

Q: No problems with anyone on the set? You didn’t have any issues with Johnny Depp?

DF: No, Johnny’s a Kentucky Hillbilly. He’d probably bite my ear off, and Bale is a crazy Brit. He’d probably bite the other ear off.

Q: Switching back into MMA, what’s next for you?

DF: I’m hoping to fight in the end of August, but we don’t have anything completed yet. We also have some guys in Texas with the Shark Fight promotion. I fought for them on May 2nd and won so they have invited me back.

Q: You’ve been around the sport for a long time now. Is there anyone that you’re still looking forward to fight?

DF: What do you mean for a long time? Are you calling me an old man? Where are you at?

Q: I’m on Mars. I’m very far away.

DF: Really though – I’d like to fight Gary Goodrich. We fought three times, and I won two but the last time, he knocked me out with a head kick so I figure I owe him. I also want to fight that big ole’ Brit James Thompson. Thompson whipped on me for seven or eight minutes. I figure I owe him to.

Q: You fought both of those guys in Pride, and you were always big supporter of the promotion. Looking back a few years on the closing of Pride, what are your thoughts on it?

DF: It’s a shame. It’s like getting married to the most beautiful woman on the planet then getting drunk and waking up next to her big, fat, ugly sister. It’s a heartbreaker. They treated you like a professional. They respected what you did. They treated you like a person. They went out of their way to make sure you performed at a top level to make sure the fans got the best event possible.

Q: As the sport has grown – specifically the UFC, what do you think about the changes in MMA?

DF: The fighters are a lot more technical, but they’re more worried about their hair and their sponsors then winning the fight. When I was in the UFC, it didn’t matter what you looked like after a fight. You could bust an eye, lose a tooth, bust a nose and it just came with territory.

Q: You mentioned eye injuries. You had a memorable fight with a guy that has made something of a comeback in Gilbert Yvel. The fight was memorable due to his constant eye gouging of you in which he was disqualified. What do you think about the incident looking back on it?

DF: It’s kind of hard to look back on it because I couldn’t see. I was thinking, “How many fingers does this guy have?” But you know what? God bless him. He came to fight. I came to fight. And we fought. In a fight, crap happens. If I see him now, everything’s fine. What am I going to do? Sit here and complain about it? If they add any more rules to it, they can call it dancing. It’s a fight. There’s no time to complain, or you shouldn’t be in there.

Q: One thing many people may not know is that you’ve done some pro wrestling in Japan. Did you ever want to do that in the U.S.?

DF: No. Back in 1996, I interviewed with WCW and the WWF. I told them what I thought, and they didn’t appreciate it much. Pro wrestling wants to control every aspect of you. They want to tell you how to dress, how to walk, and how to talk. They write your interviews for you. It’s all designed for the son-in-law of the company to be number one.

Q: Very important final question for you – will we see the return on the on-line Don Frye advice column?

DF: On TAGG Radio each week, we do “Don Frye-days” where we answer letters each Friday. If you write to me with a problem or call it in, I’ll clear it up for you. Dr. Phil is a big sissy. He’ll tell you to sit down and work it out with the person. Heck, sometimes you can’t, and it’s better to kick them in the ass.