Dada 5000
{{short description|American MMA fighter}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Dada 5000
| other_names =Da Spartan
| birth_name = Dhafir Harris
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|8|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Cat Island, Bahamas
| residence =
| nationality = Bahamian
American
| height = 6 ft 3 in
| weight = 265 lb
| weight_class = Heavyweight (2010–2011, 2016)
| reach = {{convert|77|in|cm|abbr=on}}
| style =
| stance =
| fighting_out_of = Miami, Florida, United States
| team =
| years_active = 2010–2011, 2016 (MMA)
| mma_kowin = 2
| mma_subwin =
| mma_decwin =
| mma_koloss =
| mma_subloss =
| mma_decloss =
| mma_draw =
| mma_nc = 1
| url =
| sherdog = 61683
| footnotes =
| updated = May 25, 2016
}}
Dhafir Harris (born August 4, 1977), known as Dada 5000, is a Bahamian-American retired mixed martial artist and Combat sports promoter. Turning professional in 2010, Harris went on to compete in the Heavyweight division of Bellator MMA in 2016.
He is a former internet celebrity known for no holds barred street fight videos. He was the subject of the 2015 documentary film Dawg Fight.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/1363/dhafir-harris|title=Dhafir Harris|publisher=mmafighting.com}} Harris is also the co-founder of the bare-knuckle fighting promotion BYB Extreme.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2021/4/5/22368675/dada-5000-returns-former-bellator-fighter-debuts-bare-knuckle-boxing-kharitonov-mcsweeney-mma-news|title=Dada 5000 returns!? Former Bellator fighter heading to bare-knuckle boxing|website=Bloody Elbow|date=2021-04-05|access-date=2021-10-19}}
Mixed martial arts career
= Early career =
Harris began a career in the MMA at age 32, fighting in back to back local Florida state bouts, with two wins.{{Cite web |last=Montanez |first=Andrew |date=February 6, 2016 |title=Dada 5000'S Heavyweight MMA Bout |url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/.amp/mma/dada-5000s-heavyweight-mma-bout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505062228/https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/.amp/mma/dada-5000s-heavyweight-mma-bout |archive-date=2023-05-05 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.mixedmartialarts.com/ |url-status=bot: unknown }} Harris made his debut against Cedric James at the fourth event of the Action Fight League based in Florida. Harris won by KO at less than 3 minutes of the first round.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/events/Action-Fight-League-RockNRumble-2-12216|title=Action Fight League - Rock-N-Rumble 2|last=Sherdog.com|website=Sherdog|access-date=2016-09-28}} There was controversy, as James, who was a ground styled fighter and who had Harris in a submission, Harris got his arm free and threw strikes. Soon the ref came in and broke the men up, returning the fight to stand up, and Harris would batter James with a flurry of blows.{{Cite web |date=2011-11-23 |title=MMA Star Dada 5000 Talks About Knocking Out His Opponents - Maxim |url=https://www.maxim.com/entertainment/mma-star-dada-5000-talks-about-knocking-out-his-opponents/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=www.maxim.com |language=en-US}}
Harris' next fight was against Tim Papp where he won by TKO in 50 seconds of the first round.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/events/MFA-New-Generation-4-15901|title=MFA - New Generation 4|last=Sherdog.com|website=Sherdog|access-date=2016-09-28}} In contrast to his first prior bout, Harris paced himself and focused on tactical attacks during this fight, even putting Papp into a guillotine choke, but released his opponent to go for a KO victory.{{Cite web |last=Alvarado |first=Francisco |title=Dada 5000 Delivers On Guarantee, Crushes Timothy Papp Jr. |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/dada-5000-delivers-on-guarantee-crushes-timothy-papp-jr-6560485 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Miami New Times |language=en}}
In late 2011 Harris announced he would be fighting childhood friend turned bitter rival Kimbo Slice in January 2012 for the WFO MMA promotion heavyweight championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, reported by several MMA and combat news sites.{{Cite web |date=2011-09-22 |title=Kimbo Slice vs. DADA 5000 Being Planned For 2012 |url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2011/09/22/kimbo-slice-vs-dada-5000-mma-january-2012/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=bloodyelbow.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2011-09-22 |title=Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000 will go down January 12th 2012, yes you read that right |url=https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/kimbo-slice-vs-dada-5000-will-go-down-january-12th-2012-yes-you-read-that-right-2/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=MiddleEasy |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Palmquist |first=Chris |date=2011-09-22 |title=Kimbo Slice to square off against Dada 5000 in January |url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/kimbo-slice-to-square-off-against-dada-5000-in-january |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=MMA Underground |language=en}} The fight never materialized however, and Harris would not compete in MMA for nearly another five years.
= Bellator MMA =
In 2016, Harris returned to mixed martial arts to make his Bellator MMA debut in the highly sought after, publicized match with Slice at Bellator 149. Midway through the first round both fighters would become fatigued, leading to a very uneventful fight. Harris was defeated by way of technical knock out during the waning moments of the third round.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/2/19/11076950/bellator-149-results-kimbo-slice-finishes-dada-5000-in-all-time|title=Kimbo Slice finishes Dada 5000 in all-time stinker|last=Doyle|first=Dave|date=2016-02-20|website=MMA Fighting|access-date=2016-09-28}}
Having collapsed at the end of the bout, Harris was removed from the ring on a stretcher and immediately rushed to the hospital. He was later determined to have suffered the results of cardiac arrest, severe dehydration and kidney failure during the contest with Slice. Following two weeks of hospitalization, Harris was released on March 2, 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/3/3/11155408/dada-5000-released-from-hospital-following-kimbo-slice-bout|title=Dada 5000 finally released from hospital|last=Al-Shatti|first=Shaun|date=2016-03-03|website=MMA Fighting|access-date=2016-09-28}} Bellator President Scott Coker stated after the bout that Dada 5000 would not be invited back to fight in Bellator, and thus was not re-signed past his one-fight deal against Slice.{{Cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2016/04/scott-coker-on-dada-5000s-desire-to-fight-again-lets-just-be-friends|title=Scott Coker on Dada 5000's desire to fight again: Let's just be friends|date=2016-04-29|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-28}} In March 2016, it was revealed that Slice had tested positive for nandrolone and an elevated testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E ratio) in a pre-fight drug test. The result of the fight was overturned to a no contest.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/3/21/11279344/kimbo-slice-ken-shamrock-both-test-positive-for-steroids-at-bellator|title=Slice, Shamrock both test positive for steroids|last=Raimondi|first=Marc|date=2016-03-21|website=MMA Fighting|access-date=2016-09-28}}
Slice soon died at age 42 some months after the bout, and Harris, despite their rivalry and remembering their one-time friendship, paid tribute to his fallen adversary on his Instagram page, citing him as somebody who "Showed the World that a guy from the Back yard circuit Can make it in Professional Sports and do the impossible".{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Alexander K. |date=2016-06-08 |title=Dada 5000 pays tribute to Kimbo Slice in Instagram post |url=https://www.thescore.com/mma/news/1040388 |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=theScore.com |language=en}}
= Suspension and retirement =
In May 2016, Harris stated his intention of not competing in MMA again for the immediate future due to his health concerns, but hoped to be back in action for combat sports when he was fully recovered.{{Cite web |last=Daniels |first=Tim |title=Dada 5000 Discusses Health Issues, Kimbo Slice and More |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2638379-dada-5000-discusses-health-issues-kimbo-slice-and-more |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} In addition, as a result of the events surrounding his fight with Slice and his health concern, Harris was suspended from MMA in the state of Texas indefinitely.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Announced 'Dada 5000' bare-knuckle fight scrapped by Florida commission |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/10/dada-5000-returns-bare-knuckle-byb-extreme-event-november |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}} Harris confirmed on August 16, 2021, in an interview with Jimmy Smith of Fight Nation that his fight with Slice was indeed his last and that he was retired from MMA.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-16 |title=Dada 5000 Reflects On Kimbo Slice Fight: 'I Died Twice In That Ring' |url=https://www.lowkickmma.com/dada-5000-reflects-on-kimbo-slice-fight-i-died-twice-in-that-ring/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.lowkickmma.com |language=en-US}} A return to combat sports was later ruled out for Harris as he was also barred from competing in a bare-knuckle boxing match in November 2022, as in addition to the Texas commission, the Florida commission made their decision based on the judgement of the Texas suspension.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Damon |date=2022-10-24 |title=Dada 5000 ruled out of return in bare-knuckle bout after Florida commission shuts down fight |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/10/24/23421674/dada-5000-ruled-out-of-return-in-bare-knuckle-bout-after-florida-commission-shuts-down-fight |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}
Promoting career
= BYB Extreme Fighting Series =
In April 2019, Harris started his own bare-knuckle fighting promotion in Miami, Florida. Serving as the promoter and face of the organization, BYB Extreme Fighting Series hosted its first event in April 2019; the event was notable for having the self-proclaimed smallest cage in combat sports. Known as the "trigon," the triangular cage debuted at the first event. BYB Extreme Fighting Series' next event "Brawl III: Brawl at the Rock," took place on March 7, 2020.{{Cite web | url=https://cagesidepress.com/2020/01/29/dada-5000s-brawl-rock-set-march-7th/ | title=Dada 5000's "Brawl at the Rock" Set for March 7, PFL Vet Muhammed DeReese Faces Matt Kovacs | date=29 January 2020 }} The card was headlined by Chris Barnett taking on Matt Kovacs, with the co-main event being Mike Trujillo taking on Matt Delanoit.https://bybextreme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/March-7-Brawl-III-official-press-release.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
Mixed martial arts record
{{MMArecordbox
|draws=
|nc=1
|ko-wins=2
|ko-losses=
|other-wins=
|other-losses=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
|{{draw}}NC
|align=center|{{nowrap|2–0 (1)}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2016|February|19}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|1:32
|Houston, Texas, United States
|{{small|Originally a TKO win for Slice; overturned after Slice tested positive for nandrolone and an elevated T/E ratio.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|2–0
|Tim Papp
|TKO (punches)
|MFA – New Generation 4
|{{dts|format=mdy|2011|February|12}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:50
|Miami, Florida, United States
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|1–0
|Cedric James
|KO (punches)
|Action Fight League – Rock-N-Rumble 2
|{{dts|format=mdy|2010|March|05}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:34
|Hollywood, Florida, United States
|
|-
{{end}}