Don Frye (USA) vs Taro Akebono (USA) | MMA fight, HD

Professional american heavyweight MMA fighter, wrestler and actor Don Frye with nickname "The Predator" against american huge athlete and former sumo wrestler Taro Akebono also known as Chad Rowan. Fight took place in Yoyogi National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan on May 3, 2006. Epic fight between fighters in different weight classes from golden era. Full fight MMA video in HD.
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Don Frye (USA) vs Taro Akebono (USA) | MMA fight, HD
#Frye #fights #Akebono #fight #MMA #knockout #HD #submission #Kickboxing #USA #knockouts #Japan

[@d0peshow]

Imagine being so enormous that your strategy is "lean on your opponent".

[@deedle6073]

That's actually a real strategy. You lean on them while you recover, while making the opponent carry your weight and draining his energy.

[@runkorko]

you dont need to be enourmous, just tall. See klitcko brothers. They turn box to huging

[@ellisbell614]

@@deedle6073 That's called being a coward. What an embarrassment.

[@thetruthhurts3939]

Literally word for word my thoughts as I watched this.

[@benjaminmolnar3881]

Fighting snorlax

[@outbackeddie]

Don Frye - the embodiment of badassery.

[@especialistamelhor9795]

Он больше на дровосека похож, такого, типично американского.

[@leighjordine4031]

The man was in his 40's here and still got it.

[@bearmunger787]

​@@especialistamelhor9795😅😅

[@joshualambert5977]

​@@especialistamelhor9795typical!??? I'm what we would call a redneck here in the states n can tell u....there no such thing as a typical American....but there are those of us that'll put an ass whoopin on anyone...n it tends to be people from the country here....we make up 80% of the u.s. military n have been whoopin ass for years now....just ask your government lol😂

[@tylerbrown8386]

Absolutely!!! True badass!

[@USLethal]

Its unfortunate how many current day MMA fans have no idea how badly Don would beat the literal piss out of their favorite fighter.

[@garrettdonald7368]

Its so crazy how tough he is. Ken Shamrock got Don into a submission during their fight and Don just waits a couple minutes for the round to end instead of tapping out and then goes on to win the fight.

[@jakeslamakowski6990]

​@@garrettdonald7368one of my favorite fights. Two legends went at it in an all out battle of willpower and strength.

[@katharinahiebel1488]

​@@garrettdonald7368walerphilipp

[@Papagiorgio153]

As much as i love Don, this is absolute non-sense. The sport has evolved 10 fold since this and Don wouldn't stand a chance lol

[@MrOgyny]

​@@Papagiorgio153he would adapt, give a young Don the tools available today, he'd be a beast.

[@DavidMccallister65]

Don never circled. He just kept letting him walk him straight back into the ropes or the corner.

[@KotoGrey]

Because don didn’t give a fuck!!!!

[@mattmarzula]

​@@InFernoKnight95See above reply.

[@TwinMcQuerns]

​@InFernoKnight95 Don Frye doesn't stick and move. He sticks and wrestles. That is his style.

[@scottavenged7x]

And that is stupid. These are gimmick fights, nothing more. Frye could win easily, if that were the actual point. Instead it's just this stupid display of big tall fat guy vs smaller fit guy. Meaningless. No sport.

[@GodsChosen69]

@@InFernoKnight95 because don is stronger than the larger man, not the opposite. don was tiring HIM.

[@reedr7142]

For a 400-lb guy, he’s got some skinny legs.

[@earlturner9136]

Most fat peices of shit have no legs 😂

[@mattmarzula]

Regular chopsticks...

[@codyschnuriger6743]

When you skip leg day for belly day.

[@jmazz85786]

The guy was way over 400 lbs.

[@JohanChristensen_]

like your fat mum

[@user-gb6zz6jh4q]

Tough doesn't even describe Don Frye pure badass

[@robL84]

Don frye, living legend!!

[@michaelmartin1298]

Frye was so dissapointing in this fight . Not enough head shots. Frye is still a hero.

[@michaelmartin1298]

He punched too much fat and not enough face.

[@michaelmartin1298]

When the Ref finnaly get him to Jabba the fight was over.

[@Tyrannosaurus_5000]

@@michaelmartin1298 Yea let's see you submit java the hut.

[@pneumike1]

Akebono has perfected the "put my weight upon you" technique.

[@davesmith5646]

Imagine getting punched by Don fry. Holy crap.

[@Funny_HaHa123]

Damn, the way Don tears up at the end shows that he is a real man.

[@kristaps2010]

brilliantly timed low kick and it worked as planned. amazing strategy.

[@HarmonRAB-hp4nk]

ya big tower, takes legs out from under it

[@Wesmancan]

Frye is the man. Always loved his fights.

[@durhamfox5271]

Don Frye, with a stare that could melt the polar ice cap

[@robertomunoz2395]

Nobody compares to Cro Cop

[@schmaltzythegolem4828]

You really think he’s cute?

[@steverosenberger8452]

@@robertomunoz2395 ⁰⁰000

[@user-ih6mm4ce3q]

@@robertomunoz2395 Нёёеннённ5нннёёё5н5ннн130 Ю

[@nofilteralltruth]

If Don Fry is the kind of guy if he stared at me I'd walk across the street and go the other way.

[@CT-nb5lm]

I dunno what to say except props for getting in the ring with of the most dangerous legends ever. But my god those hits & knees to that dudes stomach did mega damage for sure.. Don Frye & Dan Sev are my favs !!!

[@dwightwilson3579]

Don was the man in his prime

[@michaelparks4147]

@@markasread4349lol yea ok

[@user-wl2ck3er4z]

@@markasread4349 When people watch a video of Rocky Marciano, no one says "he would get destroyed today". But crappy mma fans do this all the time to legends of the sport.

[@Kbax3614]

@@markasread4349okay. But lets give him the equipment of today’s fighter and make him fight only 2 fights a year.

[@johnm3907]

This was way past his prime

[@nofilteralltruth]

Don was actually near 40 in this fight

[@-John-Doe-]

To be fair, the frequent separations did help with the exhaustion that comes with having a guy like Akebono on you in the clinch.

[@marshallsweatherhiking1820]

I don’t know if it was doing much. Looked like a stalemate. Akebono couldn’t take him to the ground and was too afraid to chance getting hit hard if he backed off enough to do something more offensive. He could win if he managed to lay on him, but was otherwise just too slow.

[@kapow1324]

I was lucky enough to come across Don Fry while travelling around Africa...watched him beat up 2 Hippopotamus, 4 Lions and 2 crocodiles at the same time 🤫

[@3O2MuStAnG]

So basically all these animals got lucky he wasn't hungry so they merely took a beating. 😂

[@chrisgibson8882]

Tellement d'émotion cumullée qui sort d'un coup dans les bras du coach, c'est touchant 😢❤

[@Spiritof_76]

I'd like to imagine if Akebono had fought MMA in his physical prime. His knees and body were shot to hell by the time he got into this.

[@Tyrannosaurus_5000]

So was Fry's.

[@Spiritof_76]

@@Tyrannosaurus_5000 True, but Don had fought lots of mma before this sad match up, so we got to see him at his best. It was like he was born to do it!

[@jeffguybersen]

Excuses

[@Spiritof_76]

@@jeffguybersen Who made excuses for what? Why is that reply even logical in your mind?

[@Dan-bp3bb]

​@@Spiritof_76It's the world we live in unfortunately

[@deltavee2]

Akebono only had one weak spot, his head and it took a while for Frye to get to it. Gotta be like wrestling a walrus.

[@franciscocontreras1148]

9

[@franciscocontreras1148]

9

[@franciscocontreras1148]

9

[@twanb6041]

Don Frye was an exciting fighter I miss those days!!!😞

[@nabilanaim5173]

Wow, there's so many people disrespectful to Akebono. That man might be sucks at MMA but he is a great Sumo wrestler. He is the first non Japanese to achieve the tittle of Yokozuna (Grand Champion). He also ranked top 10 Yokozuna with most championships wins. It's just Sumo and MMA is a very different type of combat sports. Transitioning from Sumo to MMA is as hard as transitioning from Boxing to MMA. And that man is already passed his prime when he dominated the Sumo ring. -In Sumo,a fight will end when one of the wrestler out of the ring or touched the ground with anything that is not their sole feet. So... a fight could end in just 10 sec- 5 minutes. There's no second round unless it's a draw. - In Sumo there's no weight division, become big is a great advantage so that you'll not get carried like a baby and not get pushed outside the ring easily.And can generate more force with more weight. - Meanwhile they're looking like a morbidly obese, they rarely get diagnosed with obese related desease. Because their 6 hours daily training and diet make their body only stores fat under their skin. They don't have a visceral fat. And they had regular check ups with doctors to make sure their body fat percentage is not exceeded 30%. That's is a body of pure dedication of an athlete. Not your average McDonald's loyal customers.

[@warrax111]

"your average Mcodnalds' loyal customer"? I wonder, who do you mean by "your".

[@kevindunlap5525]

The Chad.

[@warshipsatin8764]

he eats far more and far worse than the average mcdonalds customer

[@bretmartinez8212]

Exactly the average MMA fans don't understand sumo at all. They're highly skilled athletes with much less fat than people think

[@philmcguire7346]

im guessing your fat

[@TT-hi1qv]

You have to have big balls to fight a guy with a mustache like Dons!

[@Can-Am1989]

If I were as big as Akebono, I would not have taken this fight, Don Frye is terrifying. Props to both, the japanese showed courage and being stand-up man, for japanese people only honour counts.

[@1inchPunchBowl]

They clearly had him at the word Fry. Respect for leaning on his opponent the whole fight.

[@Spiritof_76]

Akebono was from Hawaii.

[@VeteranGOD]

the title literally showed that both are from usa...

[@chicken4090]

Hes not japanese dumbass

[@everythingismichael]

@@Spiritof_76 That dude eats hawaiians 😆

[@DrSqueezeTV]

Don Frye at 3:01 lmao he’s like wtf u want me to do bro

[@ZeeFighter28]

bro would throw two punches and fall on Don legendary fight

[@copperfish543]

It looked like Frye was fighting an Elephant Seal.

[@JEANBRUCE1991]

The hug with Gary Goodridge is a perfect moment. 12:08

[@titorjr1898]

and Gary Goodridge knocked him out in a Pride FC fight...that was pure sportmanship

[@marctoleds6259]

Royce Gracie almost popped Akebono's elbow and wrist.

[@jayrob5270]

I'm just impressed that guy could stand up without having a heart attack let alone anything else.

[@Whatever414]

It's easy for him

[@mirianbogado9964]

@@Whatever414 llllllllllllllllllllllllll

[@AJlord1]

Not hard to stand when all you do is lean

[@michaelbumgardner8526]

222²22¹½

[@osantamoyan9803]

​@@mirianbogado9964 loi

[@ellisbell614]

Skill vs. Slob. Don Frye is a legend. I have so much respect for him. ❤️

[@theethicalostrich1388]

Hey! Don't call Don Frye a Slob! ;) 1) In this fight, I actually have the bigger respect for Akibono. Akibono is not only Facing Don Fry (which is either an act of incredible bravery or an indication of masochistic tendencies) , but he is facing him in Don Fry's sport. He even almost lasted the full match. If these 2 faced each other in a Sumo Wresting match, it would have been over in seconds. To be fair though, most Sumo matches are over in a matter of seconds, so that isn't really saying anything. 2) Akibono is incredibly skilled. He was the greatest Sumo Wrestler in the world for years and worked incredibly hard. Akibono is more skilled in his sport than Don Fry it in his. Slob is one of the least accurate words in the dictionary when referring to Akibono. 3) All of that aside, There was never any doubt that Don Fry was going to win this match. He is a legend and deservedly so. He is quite possibly the most entertaining fighter to watch in the history of the sport. In sheer toughness and manliness, only Dan Severn is in the same class as Frye (at least in my mind)

[@ellisbell614]

@@theethicalostrich1388 I appreciate you telling me all this, but I'm 41 and I know my martial arts. A sumo is a slob. IMO. That's why it's over in seconds. 😂 Another credit to Don, who didn't allow Akebono to just lay on him against the ropes. Yes, I know. Dan Sevren actually talked Don into MMA. The Hall of Fame induction was great. Talk about full circle. 🤯 Take care. 👍🏻

[@zerolosses4nero]

Guys like Connor brought lots of Recognition to MMA but Connor encouraged and perpetrated too many dishonourable acts.

[@dcpunisher4781]

Damn the weight difference made me think this was a fake video, but no, it reminded me that Pride FC and Japanese-rooted MMA is Incredible. UFC of course is the dominant MMA promotion in the United States at least, but I remember 20 years ago in high school when I first got into MMA, I remember feeling that Pride FC was like the hardcore underground raw version of UFC.

[@jd9119]

Some of those punches Akebono took were pretty hard.

[@j.s.9981]

Good thing Don did not attempt to take him down to the mat, it would have been over real quick with Don not being able to breath.

[@johndreyer9730]

He really loves to hug him

[@ivo4357]

Akebono mastered the noble martial art of leaning on your opponent and falling asleep while hugging him. The healthiest of sports, eating your way to death, and then fall into each other in a small circle and try to scratch your opponent's eyes out. I'd rather be watching a curling marathon.

[@dwightbeach3242]

Big funky

[@kevindunlap5525]

Oh wow, a morbidly obese american. Let's make him a sumo wrestler. I lost a lot of respect for sumo then.

[@bretmartinez8212]

I'm most certain the average sumo wrestler would snap you in half

[@ivo4357]

@@bretmartinez8212 I'm most certain he would die of a heart attack trying to chase me.

[@bretmartinez8212]

@@ivo4357 So you would run away from a sumo wrestler

[@humbled289]

Taro Akebono is the king of smother, what a legend. lol

[@jaimhaas5170]

I have only seen a few fights in my life but this sure reminds me of Rocky training in the meat processing plant.

[@_DB.COOPER]

Don was the best!

[@Friedermanns]

Dan was the beast !

[@jacobsizemore2578]

I thought about this and his match at Wrestlemania when I think about akebono, rip legend

[@twistedtrailerparktales2126]

Don Frye was the Justin Gathjie of his generation. An NCAA wrestling champion and judo blackbelt that stood and traded with everyone.

[@danielwebster5748]

Yes and he is a 7th degree black belt in judo that's very high among Americans actually that's very high among anyone but Japan does have several dozen that are 10th degree but the 7th degree black belt is definitely an expert. I had a book that was from the 1960s and there was a fourth degree black belt and at the time he was the highest ranking American of all so 7th degree is definitely impressive.. akebono definitely need some training and strikes I mean he got a few good strikes in and some knees but you could tell he was out matched in the boxing category. And I got that big is definitely dangerous but if he can't take you out within the first couple of minutes his body can't keep continuing he's going to run out of gas.

[@kevindunlap5525]

Don made a concentrated effort to not absolutely destroy Chad. He wasn't in his best shape, but he could have really inflicted severe violence on Chad's head. It was interesting to see the liver shot efforts!

[@user-gf5yp8vy3s]

Уверен с таким весом даже лежать тяжело...

[@zza730]

Это бой бати против сына😂

[@Roger_EC]

Frey debió resolver pronto con golpes a las piernas. Pienso que no debió sufrir tanto como en este pelea. El final lo dice todo.

[@4emcarthur]

I don't care how big you are, this is what happens every damn time you mess with Burt Reynolds. "Why don't you clean this crap up off the beach? Keep the change."

[@Duck_Dodgers]

Tom Selleck lol

[@4emcarthur]

@@Duck_DodgersI said Burt Reynolds because I wanted to use the quote. It all works as long as it's a dude with a killer stache. lol

[@carmengreenwood566]

Great fight

[@Dan-bp3bb]

Ravishing Don Frye

[@ryanweaver3615]

Taro is listed at 6’8 515lbs, no wonder Don had a Tuff time with this dude just to massive.

[@natev1956]

Well that was a smart move to kick out his leg because he's so top-heavy and his legs are so much weaker

[@billbbobby2889]

The Real Beast of his time.

[@luisr.8220]

Excelente.

[@4Naturalgreen]

Just imagine Andre The Giant in his prime in this sport. He would have been undefeated. One serious punch from Andre might have actually killed someone. No kidding. If he kicked you as hard as he could, again, the result would be seriously life threatening. One kick, one punch. Neither of these two men would be able to get up from that and fight back.

[@Duck_Dodgers]

Andre wouldn't be able to move he wasn't exactly a fleet footed person even in the 70s someone that could move would have ate him alive. They had people like Andre in mma

[@4Naturalgreen]

@@Duck_Dodgers I disagree. There’s footage of Andre in his early career. He wasn’t as slow as you might think. Even someone Frye’s size, if Andre got hold of him, it’s over. One head butt, even a serious slap would knock him senseless. I’m not a huge Andre fan or anything. I know he wasn’t a martial artist, but his size and strength were unmatched. Like I said, if he was coming at you full force, trying to hurt you, he could have easily killed someone. He could snap your limbs or neck like a twig between his fingers. Imagine him doing a real choke on someone. Not only that, but if he ever lost his temper for real, how many men would it take to get him under control? Not pro,wrestling, but real MMA. It would have been interesting to see.

[@chlorophyll6154]

Imagine he's going to fight against the prime Don Frye, man was gas by 3 strike

[@Moment-14]

Oh, I didn't see this was Don Frye until the final 30 seconds of the fight

[@skw6942]

Those knees from Taro were hilarious. The range didn’t even clear his belt

[@timcagle21]

When I saw the pic of these 2 I immediately felt bad for the super heavy weight.

[@WhiskeyToro]

Don just gives me the vibes that immediately after a long, grueling fight he goes home, lights up a cigar and mows his lawn shirtless.

[@NeonLine]

didnt one of these guys compete in the Kengan tournament?

[@ricktschappat9725]

Big man meets a real man…

[@ianfosterUSA]

Don is a savage, he's awesome

[@viking4130]

On weekends Taro swims up the bay of Tokyo and walks around crushing the city . OH NO THEY SAY HE'S GOTTA GO, GO GO GODZILLA !

[@denverdanoreno]

I'm surprised Don Frye didn't dance more oh, he kept being pushed into the ropes knowing his 400-pound opponent could Tire him out.

[@ciro7025]

Ese Don Frye se parece a Tom Sellec..

[@SilageCutter]

The Greatest

[@TerminusHostilia]

Lotta folks don't know he's good in a lot more ways than just fighting and taking care of horses. He has a 'golden soul', if any man ever did. I guarantee.

[@jeffwarren6906]

Yes Sir , I absolutely agree

[@nofilteralltruth]

Listen to his podcast You can tell

[@Raeodor]

Never skipped big mac day.

[@velvety2528]

2:56 lmao his face after the referee tells him to do something

[@unclejacksjackshack]

Akebono’s corner-BE THE BLANKET

[@Dumb-fw1ey]

Not sure why Taro was mad at the end.. he never had a chance in hell of winning. And Fry wasn’t even trying.

[@WhiskeyMcnair]

Imagine fighting a 400lb mobile waterbed. Don is holding him up like I hold up my cal king mattress to flip it

[@kenbaker-ps6ej]

I think that dudes rolls are still jiggling to this day from Don’s body shots.

[@bigd9363]

FAST FORWARD 10 MINUTES!!! you're welcome These guys hug each other more than I hug my wife and kids

[@MTSchoonover89]

If Frye would have just moved more and avoided the sloppy Joe sandwich against the rope this would not have gone more than 1 round

[@tekservices8699]

Damn, that was a hell of a thing to watch

[@vietman79]

Don should've went for his legs like what Pedro Rizzo did when he fought Tank Abott. Leg strikes to his Taro's legs would've ended it fast. Taro has like 400lbs of his upper body supported by twigs.

[@frankfitz3421]

Don was the man's man

[@tradtke101]

@5:00 Don Frye trying to remember if Titty-Twisters are legal under Pride rules.

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Love Don Frye. He's absolutely tough. But his strategy for this fight was very poor. His boxing fundamentals were sloppy, and he had no foot movement. You absolutely have to use speed against a 400 lb opponent. Don let him lean on him on the ropes for minutes at a time. No good. That's what tired Don out so fast, as the guy is 400 lb.

[@PROFESSOR-I.C.]

I agree. This guy was slow and predictable coming straight forward. All Don had to do was sidestep him and clock him at least a couple times, switch it to leg kicks. Fight smarter!

[@cristianogomez7731]

Don dry is the best, except at lateral movement.

[@beelinebeelime1037]

@@PROFESSOR-I.C. п

[@rebelp311]

Love people that talk shit and the thet know what they are talking about, but have never fought 😂 You get in the ring with a sumo wrestler!

[@stupidhead9117]

@@rebelp311 Are you in the army? Secure the border? Ha ha

[@georgehorner1578]

Don's thinking, now I know how Steve Mcqueen felt in the Blob.

[@Dumb-fw1ey]

Fry is allowing taro to hit him. This would have been over within the 1st minute if Fry wanted it to end

[@What.99]

According to Google, Don Frye is 6’1”. Taro Akebono is 6’8”. Close enough.

[@johnathanrush4666]

Lots of people here dumping on Akebono with extreme keyboard warrior vibes You know you wouldn't say anything directly to that man that isn't "yes sir" 😂😂😂

[@js_youtube70]

3:00 funniest look Don gave to the ref. 😂, He reminds me of Tom Selleck in the Magnum pi series. Don, awesome fighter, especially against the shamrock guy, thought don was going to get his leg broken. Unbelievable

[@damntueton]

I always thought of him as Yoked Freddie Mercury.

[@TheRealStevenSeagals]

Akebono is like what I’d imagine Kim jong in born in Alabama would look like

[@666hellviewlane]

God dam it’s like don Frye as soon as the bell ding a big bag of sand fell on him and is carrying it around and also having to punch him

[@nealk6387]

That blubbering mass was bleeding in the first 30 seconds.

[@Kneemuh]

I am having an extremely hard time imagining don fry as a child

[@jc4388]

Intimate, back stage moment

[@marvinmurakami8828]

Akebono's body looks entirely made of ballistic gel.

[@jonnybrello4360]

Don almost dropped him with his first combo, but picked him up as he was laying on him, what a tank.

[@gabrielpita9657]

Both they did awesome 💪

[@barrykelly2722]

Respect for both fighters but what I saw was a lot of jiggling and a lot of pressing DF in the corners. Assume that is a sumo thing. I'd love to spar with DF, yea even though I'd have my yass handed to me, I'd still be able to say I made it to .02 seconds in the first round without darkness falling.

[@givanildomendes1447]

Uma lenda ,ele só não foi maior pq lutou em uma época que não ganhou reconhecimento mundial ,MAS quem assistiu suas lutas viram verdadeiras batalhas no ringue ,grande Don frye saudações do Brasil!!!!

[@user-hl9ww1vq5f]

Таро Акебоно ещё не начав драться уже вспотел 🤣🤣🤣

[@douglasbrannon6525]

Rope a Dope did not work real well, even though Frye won in the end with a choke. Frye should have did more foot work and circling to keep from being pinned up against the ropes with all of that weight on him in the corner. Akebono had one simple strategy of trapping Frye up against the ropes. But he possibly could have under arm hooked Frye and thrown him to the mat and rolled on top of him.

[@Sandux930]

the video is off sync by a second if anyone else was wondering

[@Ghost01702]

Akebono already sweating before the fight even begins

[@FrancoisSauer-ys3qc]

Don Fry a american warrior,live long fan.

[@thomaspollock3904]

What took Frye so long to kick him in one of those bandaged knees? Was he trying to drag the fight out?

[@TheSean7564]

I'm a few minutes into the fight and had to pause the video to look at the comments to see if anyone else was asking what I was asking ... thank you, Thomas! #1. Don is an absolute stud and I would (and could) never say anything to take away from that but as far as coaching and planning a fight against a fighter this fat you have to be thinking "attack the mountain's knees!"

[@rockmcdwayne1710]

These days MMA seem to have come a long way. The accuracy and power behind most hits is on a much higher level. I would imagine the big guy getting tagged by some pretty significant strikes from a get go because he looks to be quite slow to react, not to mention elbows from the clinch. Lookin at this fight, it appears that elbow stikes werent invented yet?