“Dada 5000’s” comeback to combat sports was announced and cancelled on the very same day.
“Dada 5000” (actual name Dhafir Harris) is one of the co-founders of the bare-knuckle boxing organization BYB Extreme. The organization announced on Monday that he will face Matt Strickland in the main event of “BYB 13: Tampa Brawl for it All” on November 19 at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
A representative of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation informed MMA media hours later that the match had been cancelled.
The commission representative said: “Dhafir Harris is currently indefinitely suspended by the Texas Athletic Commission. Mr. Harris will not be competing at the event in November.”
The reason for “Dada 5000’s” ban in Texas is his previous bout, which took place at Bellator 149 in February 2016. It was a rough contest that ended with Kimbo Slice winning by third-round TKO. After that, “Dada 5000” had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.
“Dada 5000” said that he wanted to compete once more at age 45 because he believed he still had “a lot left” within him.
He added in a statement,
“I have a lot left inside of me and can be a breath of fresh air to what has become a very stale fightgame. I’m one of the last of that original breed of modern mixed martial artists. I’m recognizable, and people identify with what they are familiar with. I want to do this for the fans as much as for myself.”
However, it turns out that he will not be participating in any event.