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Will Harris is an award-winning cinematographer and documentary filmmaker, best known for his YouTube series and LLC, Anatomy of a Fighter. Harris played Division 1 college basketball at the University of Southern Indiana and Jacksonville State University. However, a career-ending ACL injury in his sophomore year led him to pursue a different path. Harris bought his first camera with his Pell Grant money and hasn't looked back since. He has directed and produced exclusive behind-the-scenes content, personal interviews, and day-in-the-life videos of MMA fighters, boxers, and coaches. Harris has also competed in mixed martial arts himself, fighting in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Walt Harris |
| Date of Birth | June 10, 1983 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Mixed Martial Artist; former Basketball Player |
| University | Jacksonville State University; University of Southern Indiana |
| Amateur Record | 4-1 |
| Professional Debut | March 15, 2011, vs. Justin Thornton at HEF: Hess Extreme Fighting |
| Professional Record | 6-1 (before signing with UFC) |
| Notable Wins | Tony Melton; UFC veteran Anthony Hamilton; Cody East; Chase Sherman; Cyril Asker; Daniel Spitz; Andrei Arlovski |
| Notable Losses | Jared Rosholt; Nikita Krylov; Shamil Abdurakhimov; Mark Godbeer; Fabrício Werdum |
| UFC Record | 2-4 |
| Suspension | Temporarily suspended by CSAC in 2019 for failed drug test; result overturned to no contest |
| YouTube Channel | Anatomy of a Fighter |
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What You'll Learn
Walt Harris, a former basketball player
Walt Harris, born on June 10, 1983, is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Harris entered the world of mixed martial arts in 2010, signing with UFC in the fall of 2013. Before that, he was a basketball player at Jacksonville State University. Harris had dreams of becoming a professional basketball player and even attended the University of Southern Indiana to pursue this dream. However, a career-ending injury during his sophomore year led him to graduate with two degrees - in Public Relations and Film - and ultimately, a new dream.
Harris competed as an amateur from 2009 to 2010, compiling a record of 4-1. He made his professional debut on March 15, 2011, facing Justin Thornton at HEF: Hess Extreme Fighting. He won the fight via first-round TKO, just sixteen seconds into the first round. Following this impressive start, Harris went on to compile a record of 6-1, with notable wins over Tony Melton and UFC veteran Anthony Hamilton.
On September 19, 2013, Harris signed with the UFC and faced fellow newcomer Jared Rosholt at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale on November 30, 2013. Despite a strong start, Harris lost the fight via unanimous decision. He faced Nikita Krylov at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014, but unfortunately lost again, this time via TKO in just 25 seconds into the first round. After these initial setbacks, Harris was released from his UFC contract.
Harris then signed with Florida-based promotion Titan FC, where he faced D.J. Linderman at Titan FC 28 on May 16, 2014, winning via first-round knockout. He was expected to face Dave Herman at Titan FC 30, but a back injury forced him to pull out of the bout. Harris eventually resigned with UFC and faced Soa Palelei at UFC Fight Night 55. Over the next few years, Harris had a string of wins and losses, facing opponents such as Cody East, Shamil Abdurakhimov, and Chase Sherman.
In 2018, Harris faced Daniel Spitz and Andrei Arlovski, winning both fights. However, in January 2019, it was reported that Harris had tested positive for prohibited substances and was temporarily suspended. He was able to prove that the positive test resulted from a tainted supplement, and the suspension was lifted after four months, with a $4,000 fine.
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Transitioned to MMA in 2010
Walt Harris, born on June 10, 1983, is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Harris transitioned to MMA in 2010. Before entering mixed martial arts, Harris was a basketball player at Jacksonville State University. He played basketball at the University of Southern Indiana, with dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. However, a career-ending injury during his sophomore year led him to pursue a different path. Harris tore his ACL, which required him to use a $700 Pell Grant to purchase his first camera, marking the beginning of his new passion for cinematography.
Harris competed as an amateur in MMA from 2009 to 2010, achieving a record of 4-1. On March 15, 2011, he made his professional debut against Justin Thornton at HEF: Hess Extreme Fighting. Harris won the fight via first-round TKO in just sixteen seconds. Following this impressive debut, he continued his winning streak, compiling a record of 6-1 with notable victories over Tony Melton and UFC veteran Anthony Hamilton. This early success in his MMA career caught the attention of UFC, and in the fall of 2013, he signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
On September 19, 2013, Harris officially joined the UFC and faced fellow newcomer Jared Rosholt at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale on November 30, 2013. Despite dominating the first round, Harris ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision. In his second UFC bout, he faced Nikita Krylov at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014. Harris was heavily favored to win but was stunned by a head kick from Krylov, resulting in a TKO loss just 25 seconds into the first round. This early setback in his UFC career led to his release from the promotion.
Harris then signed with Florida-based promotion Titan FC, where he faced D.J. Linderman at Titan FC 28 on May 16, 2014. He showcased his power once again by winning the fight via first-round knockout. He was scheduled to face Dave Herman at Titan FC 30, but a back injury forced him to withdraw from the bout. Harris's journey back to the UFC began when he faced Daniel Spitz on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131, winning via knockout in the second round.
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Signed with UFC in 2013
Walt Harris, also known as "The Big Ticket", is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Harris was a basketball player at Jacksonville State University before entering mixed martial arts in 2010. He made his professional debut on March 15, 2011, facing Justin Thornton at HEF: Hess Extreme Fighting and winning via first-round TKO.
Harris compiled a record of 6–1, with wins over Tony Melton and UFC veteran Anthony Hamilton, before signing with the UFC in the fall of 2013. On September 19, 2013, it was announced that Harris had signed with the UFC. He faced fellow newcomer Jared Rosholt at the Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale on November 30, 2013. Harris dropped Rosholt in the first round but ultimately lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In his second UFC fight, Harris faced Nikita Krylov at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014. Harris was the favourite coming into the bout, but he lost via TKO in the first round. After this, Harris was released from the UFC and signed with Florida-based promotion Titan FC. He faced D.J. Linderman at Titan FC 28 on May 16, 2014, winning via first-round knockout.
Harris then resigned with the UFC and faced Soa Palelei at UFC Fight Night 55 on November 7, 2014, losing via second-round TKO. He went on to compete in several more UFC fights, facing opponents such as Cody East, Shamil Abdurakhimov, Chase Sherman, and Cyril Asker. Harris's last fight was in June 2021, and he has since been removed from the UFC roster due to a potential anti-doping policy violation.
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YouTube series Anatomy of a Fighter
Anatomy of a Fighter is a YouTube documentary web series about the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) combat sports. The series is directed by award-winning filmmaker Will Harris of Will Harris Productions. Harris, a former basketball player at Jacksonville State University, compiled an amateur record of 4-1 before entering the world of professional MMA in 2010. He made his professional debut on March 15, 2011, facing Justin Thornton at HEF: Hess Extreme Fighting and winning via first-round TKO in just sixteen seconds.
The series provides exclusive, never-before-seen "behind the scenes" content of the combat sports world, featuring some of the world's best MMA and boxers, coaches, trainers, and gyms. Each month, a new episode is released, showcasing original documentaries and "day in the life" content about popular MMA and boxing athletes from across the globe.
The series aims to be the best MMA channel on YouTube, with Harris' Instagram bio stating his intention to win an Oscar in the future. The channel provides subscribers with unique, cinematic content, including a bout between Harris and UFC newcomer Jared Rosholt, which Harris lost via unanimous decision despite dominating the first round. Another episode features Harris' fight against Nikita Krylov, where he lost via TKO just 25 seconds into the first round after being staggered by a head kick.
The series also captures Harris' journey after his release from UFC, signing with Florida-based promotion Titan FC. It includes his fight against D.J. Linderman, which he won via first-round knockout, and his bout with Dave Herman, which was postponed due to a back injury. The series further documents Harris' return to UFC, his fight against Cyril Asker, and his disqualification bout with Mark Godbeer, showcasing the highs and lows of his MMA career.
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Documentary filmmaker
Will Harris is an award-winning cinematographer and documentary filmmaker. He is the creator of the YouTube series "Anatomy of a Fighter", which focuses on MMA. Harris has also worked on projects such as "DREAL: Dreams are Real" and has expressed interest in expanding his team to include a dedicated drone operator and a second shooter.
Harris' approach to filmmaking involves building trust and rapport with his subjects. He takes the time to get to know them and their patterns and energy, which helps him capture intimate and authentic moments. For example, in one instance, he captured footage of Al Iaquinta in the lobby going nuts about getting a fight with Khabib. This moment of raw emotion captured by Harris is a testament to his skill as a documentary filmmaker.
Harris' work has received recognition and praise from both fans and industry professionals. His series "Anatomy of a Fighter" has been hailed as "the best in MMA right now". Harris' skill lies in his ability to build upon the format he has created and take it in new directions, keeping the content fresh and engaging for his audience.
In addition to his work in MMA, Harris has also explored other sports in his filmmaking. He has been known to talk about a range of topics with fighters, including basketball, and dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. This well-rounded approach to his craft allows him to connect with his subjects on a deeper level and capture a more holistic view of their lives and interests.
Harris' dedication to his craft and his willingness to collaborate and expand his team demonstrate his passion and drive as a documentary filmmaker. His work in the world of MMA and beyond continues to leave a lasting impact and inspire others in the field.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Harris was a D1 college basketball player at Jacksonville State University before he entered the world of mixed martial arts in 2010. He suffered a career-ending injury while at the University of Southern Indiana, which led him to pursue a different path and develop a passion for cinematography.
Will Harris made his professional MMA debut on March 15, 2011, facing Justin Thornton at HEF: Hess Extreme Fighting. He won the fight via first-round TKO in just sixteen seconds. He then compiled a record of 6-1 before signing with the UFC in 2013.
Will Harris is now an award-winning cinematographer and documentary filmmaker. He is the creator of the YouTube series "Anatomy of a Fighter", which features behind-the-scenes content, personal interviews, and the daily lives of MMA fighters. He has also expressed a desire to become a storyteller for his community and help it grow visually.
