Last February 19, heavyweight fighter Dhafir Harris, more popularly known as “Dada 5000” suffered a major health scare following his fight against Kimbo Slice at Bellator 149.
The 38-year old fighter suffered two heart attacks and renal failure during the fight that was officially ruled as a third round TKO victory in favor of Slice. In his appearance at the Dan LeBatard show in mid-April, Harris attributed his near-death experience to being a mere “part-time fighter“.
While his fighting future remains uncertain, Bellator FC president Scott Coker says the world may have seen the last of Harris fighting inside his cage.
“I think we should just be friends. Friends is a good thing,” Coker said in his interview during Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour (transcription via MMA Fighting). “Friends are forever.”
Fans have criticized the organization for putting up the kind of fights that transpired at Bellator 149. But Coker believes they should be given some leeway for such events, since they rarely take place in a year’s time.
“To me, it’s like, c’mon, you’ve gotta give us a little bit of a break, because the math works the other way and not the fun fights way. So to me it’s like, a couple times a year we’re gonna put on those fun fights, but the other 23 are right down the alley, right down the lane for what you like and what the hardcore fans like,” Coker said.
“To me, we have something for everybody.”