The History Of Sierra Vista, Arizona’s Toughest Man

Sierra Vista has held its fair share of history throughout the years. Fort Huachuca's inclusion is more than enough to make it one of the most important cities in Arizona.

Despite the city's large influence, it seems that in the broader context, Sierra Vista is mostly forgotten by the world.

That is, if Don Frye never came into the picture.

Sierra Vista, Born and Raised

Born on November 23rd, 1965, Don Frye was destined for greatness. Raised in the shadow of the Huachucas, Frye lived a mostly normal, suburban childhood. His luck changed, however, when he began wrestling at Buena High School.

Frye dominated early on, and was able to secure a spot on Arizona State's wrestling roster in 1984. There, he began to train under Dan Severn, a huge name in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Through his guidance, Frye made his professional boxing debut in 1989, winning his first match against Luis Mora under the lights of Phoenix.

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Professional Career and Beyond

Frye began to make his way around the UFC circuit, amassing two wins and five losses over the course of 14 months. After this, Frye retired and began working as a firefighter in Bisbee. He couldn't stay away from the ring for long though, and he began to focus on Mixed Martial Arts, specifically judo.

This was the right move, as throughout the '90s and early 2000s, he became unbeatable in the MMA UFC Circuit. In his time from 1999 to 2007, Frye amassed a staggering 20 wins and nine losses.

Now, he's enjoying retirement and acting on the side, taking roles in a Godzilla film, Michael Mann's "Public Enemies", and a brief stint on 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia".

[Wikipedia]

[YouTube via Sports Legends]