If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a living mountain clashes with a mustache-rip brawler, don’t look for the infamous Taro Akebono vs. Don Fry matchup. This was more than just a battle. It was a physics experiment.
Don Fry vs Taroa Kebono
Let’s set the stage: ataro akebono was the first non-Japanese Yokohama in sumo. At his peak, Akebono is 6’8” (some say 6’11” while others say ask Fry, who had to keep his neck hanging to find the man’s face).
After retiring from SUMO in 2001, Akebono dabbled in everything from professional wrestling, kickboxing to MMA, where his records didn’t match his SUMO pedigree at all.
Beyond the Ring: A true MMA pioneer and a tough national man, Donfrye is refreshing from his career, where he won early UFC tournaments and reached out to anyone, anywhere. Fly was by no means the biggest heavyweight, but he was built like a fire hydrant and doubled stubbornly. By the time he met Akebono in 2006, Fry had already solidified his melee legacy with his granite chin, wrestling base and a mustache that could cut glass.
Now about the difference in size: Don Frye, a sturdy 6’1″ and about 220 pounds of his prime looked like a regular sized father at the sumo family reunion.
“How stupid it would be to sign this contract. I should have kept my mouth shut. He was the Grand National Sumo Champion… he was very strong. His hands were huge. He was like a half 6’11.
The battle itself was not a technical showcase, but a test of gravity and will. True to his sumo roots, Akebono leaned all 500 pounds on the clinch to try and crush the stir fry on the rope. Don Frye, breathing through the air and space, did his best. He threw punches, kicks, smudged boxes, and eventually dropped the giant and slammed it into the guillotine choke to win. It was a victory for the underdogs, or at least for those under 400 pounds.