Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama: PRIDE 21 Fight and TKO
Don Frye and Yoshihiro Takayama met in the PRIDE 21 heavyweight co-main event on June 23, 2002. Frye won by TKO at 6:10 of the first round. Sherdog’s event record confirms the date and result, while PRIDE retrospective from the promotion revisits the bout’s famous opening exchange.
A striking exchange that defined the bout
Early in the first round, the two men clinched with their hands behind each other’s heads and traded right hands at close range. The exchange became the defining image of the fight. Takayama, a professional wrestler making his mark in mixed martial arts, continued to press forward, while Frye answered with heavy punches.
Frye earns the stoppage
After the standing exchange, Frye brought the action to the mat, gained mount, and landed punches from the top. The referee stopped the contest at 6:10. The official result was a first-round TKO for Frye; the fight did not go to a decision.
Legacy of PRIDE 21
The bout remains one of PRIDE’s most widely remembered heavyweight contests. Read more about Don Frye’s career and his place in early MMA.
Sources
- Sherdog — PRIDE 21: Demolition event results
- UFC — PRIDE’s 30 Most Memorable Moments
- Sherdog — Frye vs. Takayama retrospective
