Don Frye Bridging the Generation Gap
Tommy Messano Jun 16, 2007
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The transition from fighter to coach has not gone
as planned for mixed martial arts legend Don Frye (Pictures).
His Tucson Scorpions have already been eliminated from International Fight League playoff contention prior to this weekend's bout versus the Ken Shamrock (Pictures)-led Nevada Lions.
A tough early season schedule and a complete roster overhaul have
some questioning the coaching abilities of the former UFC
tournament champ.
Frye the coach now must go back to the drawing board as his team will look to play the role of spoiler against his former in-ring rival. After a season full of trials, Frye is very candid about his feelings towards the new generation of MMA athlete.
Comparing athletes of different eras is difficult in any sport. The modern day MMA competitor has evolved physically, through various strength and conditioning techniques, while the days of training in just one discipline are a thing of the past. The work ethic of today's fighters is what Frye has called into question after nearly a full season of coaching them.
"Yeah, it's terrible," he said. "Nobody wants to break a sweat. Nobody shows up on time. They don't know how to look a man in the eye and shake his hand."
Despite the difficult 0-2 start for the Scorpions, Frye has found at least three "gamers" on his IFL team that he can proudly march into any battle.
"We had three men on our team. We had Mike Whitehead (Pictures), Gabe Rivas (Pictures), and Chad Griggs (Pictures)," said the fighter turned coach. "Rivas is a real man and he ends up getting his ACL torn. Chad Griggs (Pictures) is a real good man. He's a fireman, but being a professional firefighter and a paramedic he's worn out. Mike Whitehead (Pictures) is a terrific athlete."
Frye's job as a fighter recently affected his ability to coach his big name free agent acquisition.
"I had to send Whitehead up to Las Vegas to train for this fight because I did something stupid and took that fight with James Thompson (Pictures)," recalled Frye. "I came back with a shoulder injury and tearing my ACL, I can't train him."
Learning on the job under the coaching spotlight, Frye is quick not to point the finger at his team.
"I take full blame for the failure of this team. I'm ‘old school.'" said Frye. "My college wrestling coaches Bobby Douglas from Arizona State and Joe Seay from Oklahoma State, they left it up to you. They didn't give you a little pep talk before the fight; they didn't coddle you, and give you a kiss on the forehead. That's what some of these guys apparently need."
In team sports the great player does not always become the great coach. Trying to translate Frye's gritty in-ring fighting style to coaching lingo for his players apparently is easier said than done.
"If you get poked in the eye it doesn't matter, it's a fight. If you get kicked in the balls, it doesn't matter: keep going it's a fight. Let the referee worry about that," proclaimed Frye. "The referee and the judges are your biggest enemies out there. It's a fight, not tennis. Once the fighter starts complaining, it's over."
Wearing the hat of coach and general manger, Frye is looking at unconventional methods of scouting talent for his IFL squad.
"My wife is promoting a fight down in Tucson called Cage Supremacy on Sunday, June 24th at the Wildcat house," said the Predator. "We're hoping to find some guys for next year's IFL season. We're basically holding open tryouts for pay. You can't beat that."
Back in February the expansion Scorpions opened the season with five fighters and one alternate. On June 16 the Scorpions will send five new fighters into the IFL ring, with no holdovers from their first team battle. Is the juggling of his team's roster a case of an overanxious coach? Or is the talent in California and Nevada just that far ahead of the Grand Canyon state?
Frye says experience is the key to closing the talent gap.
"That's another reason why my wife has gotten into promoting is get these Arizona guys more experience. Your guys from California are coming in with at least 10 fights apiece, maybe 20," said the Tucson resident. "Some of the local promotions here are paying their guys 20 dollars and you get what you pay for."
In a fight career that spans over 11 years, Frye has only suffered defeat an amazing six times. His most recent loss at PRIDE 34 to heavyweight James Thompson (Pictures) has not discouraged the MMA warhorse from looking to compete again.
"I want to fight two more years. I'm not going to fight until September. I'm not making any excuses, but that guy kicked my ass. He's a big, strong, powerful Brit," exclaimed Frye. "I don't know if I walked in there with a torn rotator cuff or did he just rip it off my shoulder and beat me over the head with it?"
The UFC and PRIDE vet has earned the luxury of picking and choosing where and for whom he would like to fight next.
"I can fight anywhere I want," he said. "It's just a matter if after September, if anyone wants me to fight for them."
The balance between the coach-fighter dynamic has Frye's paternal instinct pushed to the backburner as he attempts to get his message through to the IFL athlete of 2007.
"I like fighting. It's a lot easier. It's less of a responsibility because all you have to do is worry about yourself," said Frye. "You have to mother these guys. I'm not the mothering, coddling type."
Never one to pamper, Coach Frye plans to stand his ground and stick to his gut whether in the ring or on the sidelines.
"I'm ‘old school.' You don't like it? There's the door -- get out. That's what happened to 90 percent of my team this season."
His Tucson Scorpions have already been eliminated from International Fight League playoff contention prior to this weekend's bout versus the Ken Shamrock (Pictures)-led Nevada Lions.
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Frye the coach now must go back to the drawing board as his team will look to play the role of spoiler against his former in-ring rival. After a season full of trials, Frye is very candid about his feelings towards the new generation of MMA athlete.
"I'm real disappointed in the performance of what we call fighters
nowadays. They're not fighters," barked the Scorpions head coach.
"They're sissies raised by their mom."
Comparing athletes of different eras is difficult in any sport. The modern day MMA competitor has evolved physically, through various strength and conditioning techniques, while the days of training in just one discipline are a thing of the past. The work ethic of today's fighters is what Frye has called into question after nearly a full season of coaching them.
"Yeah, it's terrible," he said. "Nobody wants to break a sweat. Nobody shows up on time. They don't know how to look a man in the eye and shake his hand."
Despite the difficult 0-2 start for the Scorpions, Frye has found at least three "gamers" on his IFL team that he can proudly march into any battle.
"We had three men on our team. We had Mike Whitehead (Pictures), Gabe Rivas (Pictures), and Chad Griggs (Pictures)," said the fighter turned coach. "Rivas is a real man and he ends up getting his ACL torn. Chad Griggs (Pictures) is a real good man. He's a fireman, but being a professional firefighter and a paramedic he's worn out. Mike Whitehead (Pictures) is a terrific athlete."
Frye's job as a fighter recently affected his ability to coach his big name free agent acquisition.
"I had to send Whitehead up to Las Vegas to train for this fight because I did something stupid and took that fight with James Thompson (Pictures)," recalled Frye. "I came back with a shoulder injury and tearing my ACL, I can't train him."
Learning on the job under the coaching spotlight, Frye is quick not to point the finger at his team.
"I take full blame for the failure of this team. I'm ‘old school.'" said Frye. "My college wrestling coaches Bobby Douglas from Arizona State and Joe Seay from Oklahoma State, they left it up to you. They didn't give you a little pep talk before the fight; they didn't coddle you, and give you a kiss on the forehead. That's what some of these guys apparently need."
In team sports the great player does not always become the great coach. Trying to translate Frye's gritty in-ring fighting style to coaching lingo for his players apparently is easier said than done.
"If you get poked in the eye it doesn't matter, it's a fight. If you get kicked in the balls, it doesn't matter: keep going it's a fight. Let the referee worry about that," proclaimed Frye. "The referee and the judges are your biggest enemies out there. It's a fight, not tennis. Once the fighter starts complaining, it's over."
Wearing the hat of coach and general manger, Frye is looking at unconventional methods of scouting talent for his IFL squad.
"My wife is promoting a fight down in Tucson called Cage Supremacy on Sunday, June 24th at the Wildcat house," said the Predator. "We're hoping to find some guys for next year's IFL season. We're basically holding open tryouts for pay. You can't beat that."
Back in February the expansion Scorpions opened the season with five fighters and one alternate. On June 16 the Scorpions will send five new fighters into the IFL ring, with no holdovers from their first team battle. Is the juggling of his team's roster a case of an overanxious coach? Or is the talent in California and Nevada just that far ahead of the Grand Canyon state?
Frye says experience is the key to closing the talent gap.
"That's another reason why my wife has gotten into promoting is get these Arizona guys more experience. Your guys from California are coming in with at least 10 fights apiece, maybe 20," said the Tucson resident. "Some of the local promotions here are paying their guys 20 dollars and you get what you pay for."
In a fight career that spans over 11 years, Frye has only suffered defeat an amazing six times. His most recent loss at PRIDE 34 to heavyweight James Thompson (Pictures) has not discouraged the MMA warhorse from looking to compete again.
"I want to fight two more years. I'm not going to fight until September. I'm not making any excuses, but that guy kicked my ass. He's a big, strong, powerful Brit," exclaimed Frye. "I don't know if I walked in there with a torn rotator cuff or did he just rip it off my shoulder and beat me over the head with it?"
The UFC and PRIDE vet has earned the luxury of picking and choosing where and for whom he would like to fight next.
"I can fight anywhere I want," he said. "It's just a matter if after September, if anyone wants me to fight for them."
The balance between the coach-fighter dynamic has Frye's paternal instinct pushed to the backburner as he attempts to get his message through to the IFL athlete of 2007.
"I like fighting. It's a lot easier. It's less of a responsibility because all you have to do is worry about yourself," said Frye. "You have to mother these guys. I'm not the mothering, coddling type."
Never one to pamper, Coach Frye plans to stand his ground and stick to his gut whether in the ring or on the sidelines.
"I'm ‘old school.' You don't like it? There's the door -- get out. That's what happened to 90 percent of my team this season."
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