DADA 5000 Hospitalized After Bellator 149

MMA Junkie reports that Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris was hospitalized due to renal failure and severe dehydration after his Bellator 149 fight with Kimbo Slice. While it was reported that he is in critical condition, a statement from sent by Bellator from Harris’ family revealed that he’s doing better.

Harris and Slice were exhausted after less than one round and appeared visibly tired for the remainder of the fight. With 1:32 left in the last round, Slice finally scored the knockout. Harris was seen using oxygen and was later removed from the cage on a stretcher. While Harris hadn’t fought professionally in five years prior to Bellator 149, fighters are required to provide medical documents stating they are fit to compete.

Here’s the statement: The Harris Family would like to inform Dada’s friends and fans that Dada is ok and resting comfortably in a Houston area Hospital under the care of an incredible staff of doctors and nurses.

The doctors have now informed us that Dada had accumulated extremely high levels of potassium in his blood which led to severe dehydration, fatigue and renal failure. The high potassium levels were likely caused by his 40lbs weight loss in preparation for the fight.

Thanks to the EMTs and doctors, Dada is now recovering nicely.

Dada showed the heart of a lion in the cage – not backing down throughout. He worked extremely hard preparing for the fight and stepped forward for 3 rounds against a tough veteran. He kept digging through the adversity- leaving it all in the cage for his fans and supporters. You can never take that away from him.

We’d like to thank all those who have supported Dada as well as express our sincere appreciation to Scott Coker, and the good people at BELLATOR and Spike who have been on-site to visit Dada and support the family.

We ask for the public and media to respect Dada’s privacy as he recovers.”

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