#Donfrye #seanstrickland #UFC

Don Frye is a legendary MMA pioneer, well-known for his exciting fights beginning at UFC 8. Under the tutelage of Dan Severn, Don Frye enrolled in UFC 8 in 1996, knocking out Thomas Ramirez, finishing Sam Adkins, and submitting Gary Goodridge to win the UFC 8 tournament. Don Frye then returned at UFC 9 to TKO Amaury Bitetti and UFC 10 where he TKO'd Mark Hall, and finished Brian Johnston, but unfortunately lost to Mark Coleman in the finals to lose the UFC 10 tournament. After submitting Mark Hall in UFC Japan, Don Frye returned at UFC Ultimate Ultimate 96 to finish Gary Goodridge, submitted Mark Hall and submitted Tank Abbnot to win the Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournament. Don Frye continued his win streak until 2002, defeating Eric Valdez, Gilbert Yvel, Cyril Abidi, Ken Shamrock and ultimately defeating Yoshihiro Takayama at Backstage Pride in what is considered the manliest fight ever. This was the high point of Don's career, but he continued fighting until 2011. Don's contributions to early MMA as a 2-time UFC tournament champion earned him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.

Sean Strickland is one of the most controversial champions the UFC has ever had. Sean Strickland is of course most famous not only for his outspoken and unhinged personality but also because of his shockingly dominant performance at UFC 293 to defeat Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision to become the UFC middleweight champion on September 10th, 2023. Prior to this, Sean Strickland had an extensive MMA career, becoming the King of the Cage Middleweight Champion and defending his KOTC title 4 times before joining the UFC. After Sean Strickland's lackluster welterweight run in the UFC, including a loss to both Kamaru Usman and Santiago Ponzinibbio, Strickland moved up to the UFC's middleweight division, where he gathered a 6-fight win streak before getting knocked out by Alex Pereira at UFC 276 in 2022, which was unfortunately followed by a highly controversial split decision loss to Jared Cannonier in December 2022. Sean Stricklan rebounded in 2023 with 2 victories over Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov before earning his title shot to Israel Adesanya. After dethroning Adesanya, Strickland's first title defense against Dricus Du Plessis ended in a controversial Split Decision for Dricus Du Plessis. However, losing his title would not keep Sean Strickland down as Sean would rebound with a victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302.

Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier was one of the most respected mixed martial artists to ever compete in the UFC. His UFC record contains names of some of the most legendary lightweights and featherweights to ever compete in the sport including Max Holloway, Conor McGregor, the Korean Zombie, Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charles Oliveira, Michael Chandler, and Islam Makhachev. Dustin Poirier's crowning achievements are his decision win over Max Holloway at UFC 236 to become the interim lightweight champion, his two knockout victories over Conor McGregor at UFC 264 and UFC 257. Dustin Poirier attempted to claim the UFC BMF championship at UFC 291, but was instead knocked out by Justin Gaethje. Dustin Poirier competed for an undisputed lightweight title 3 times but never captured undisputed gold as he was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, submitted by Charles Oliveira at UFC 269, and Submitted by Islam Makhachev at UFC 302. Dustin Poirier may have never captured undisputed UFC gold, but his legacy lives on as one of the greatest fighters to ever compete in MMA. Fans will forever hold Poirier in high regards no matter his lack of a world title.