DaDa 5000 health update: Awaiting lab reports, expects hospital release by week’s end

We are less than three full days removed from Bellator 149, as well as the unfortunate health scare suffered by DaDa 5000 after the 38-year-old fighter’s third-round technical knockout loss to Kimbo Slice on Friday night (Feb. 19, 2016) in Houston, Texas.

DaDa, real name Dhafir Harris, was taken out of cage on a stretcher inside Toyota Center after collapsing at the end of the fight due to severe exhaustion. The following day, Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report reported that Harris went into cardiac arrest, was in critical condition, and needed to be placed on a ventilator.

MMAFighting’s Marc Raimondi reported that Harris needed to be resuscitated in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Bellator MMA released a statement from the Harris family, which revealed the fighter had cut over 40 pounds to make the 265-pound limit, had accumulated high levels of potassium in his blood, which then led to severe dehydration. He also reportedly suffered renal failure after the bout.

Brett Okamoto from ESPN reported on Monday (Feb. 23) via Twitter after speaking to the manager of Harris, that the star of the documentary “Dawg Fight” is “walking around and asking to be released.” He also said they are “awaiting lab reports” and Harris should be released from hospital by “end of the week.”

Medical update on Dada from manager: He’s walking around and asking to be released. Awaiting lab reports. Should be out by “end of week.”

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 22, 2016


That is very encouraging news for Harris, who was fighting for his life on Saturday evening. Harris is now 2-1 overall in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

Harris and Slice were both required to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a electroencephalogram (EEG) tests due to their age in order to be licensed to fight in Texas. Harris also passed the pre-fight medical exam, which checked for signs of dehydration and hypertension. The Texas Combative Sports Program told MMAJunkie that Harris met all the requirements and that they would review their procedures in light of what happened.

“We’ll re-evaluate and decide whether we need to change our procedures,” commission spokesperson Susan Stanford said.

For more Bellator 149 fallout click here.

We are less than three full days removed from Bellator 149, as well as the unfortunate health scare suffered by DaDa 5000 after the 38-year-old fighter’s third-round technical knockout loss to Kimbo Slice on Friday night (Feb. 19, 2016) in Houston, Texas.

DaDa, real name Dhafir Harris, was taken out of cage on a stretcher inside Toyota Center after collapsing at the end of the fight due to severe exhaustion. The following day, Jeremy Botter of Bleacher Report reported that Harris went into cardiac arrest, was in critical condition, and needed to be placed on a ventilator.

MMAFighting’s Marc Raimondi reported that Harris needed to be resuscitated in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Bellator MMA released a statement from the Harris family, which revealed the fighter had cut over 40 pounds to make the 265-pound limit, had accumulated high levels of potassium in his blood, which then led to severe dehydration. He also reportedly suffered renal failure after the bout.

Brett Okamoto from ESPN reported on Monday (Feb. 23) via Twitter after speaking to the manager of Harris, that the star of the documentary “Dawg Fight” is “walking around and asking to be released.” He also said they are “awaiting lab reports” and Harris should be released from hospital by “end of the week.”



That is very encouraging news for Harris, who was fighting for his life on Saturday evening. Harris is now 2-1 overall in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

Harris and Slice were both required to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a electroencephalogram (EEG) tests due to their age in order to be licensed to fight in Texas. Harris also passed the pre-fight medical exam, which checked for signs of dehydration and hypertension. The Texas Combative Sports Program told MMAJunkie that Harris met all the requirements and that they would review their procedures in light of what happened.

“We’ll re-evaluate and decide whether we need to change our procedures,” commission spokesperson Susan Stanford said.

For more Bellator 149 fallout click here.