Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz recently shared a memorable training session with MMA legend Don Frye, offering a glimpse into the stark contrasts between different eras of the sport.
Cruz, known for his exceptional footwork and evasive style, recounted the amusing experience of preparing to train with the iconic mustached pioneer of mixed martial arts.
“People don’t know it’s not a sport when Don Frye fought. Weight classes didn’t exist, gloves weren’t there,” Cruz explained. “I was like okay, I’m gonna learn from Don Frye.”
What followed was a peculiar pre-training ritual that caught Cruz off guard. As Cruz was wrapping his hands, he noticed Frye’s unique preparation method.
“He goes ‘gear up’ and I go to gear up, and I’m putting my wraps on and I’m watching him. He literally goes into his bag, grabs vico din and just chews them before we spar,” Cruz recalled. “He like kind of had me thinking about it like, is this what I’m supposed to be doing before practice?”
The size difference between the two athletes became apparent during their session, with Cruz’s superior mobility proving challenging for the larger Frye.
“He couldn’t hit me. Through a head kick, I’m like ‘dude, you’re already bigger than me,'” Cruz said. Despite the comical nature of their encounter, Cruz maintained his respect for the pioneer, adding, “He just grunts. Good dude, you know. He’s about as good as anybody from that era.”
The lighthearted story highlights the evolution of the sport and the entertaining clash of styles between different generations of martial artists.
