The Ultimate Fighter has afforded hundreds of fighters the opportunity to improve their life and introduce them to the MMA world on a wide scale. For others it helped launch their careers and eventually lead to a title shot.
So, at 36 years old, Luke Harris of St. Albert, Alta., knew what a grand opportunity an appearance on TUF would be.
“It’s a huge, huge opportunity,” Harris told Sportsnet in a phone interview. “I’ve seen how it can catapult people’s careers so super exciting for what it could do for me personally and my gym.”
Harris is one of eight fighters representing his country on TUF Nations: Canada vs. Australia and fights Team Australia’s Vik Grujic in the quarterfinals Wednesday.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch TUF Nations every Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360 and visit sportsnet.ca for weekly recaps and blogs
The judo black belt has been competing in MMA professionally since 2007, compiling a 10-2-1 record along the way with stints in notable Canadian promotions King of the Cage, Aggression MMA and the Maximum Fighting Championship. He has been competing in various martial arts since he was a child and has travelled the world honing his craft. He frequently trains his Brazilian jiu-jitsu with acclaimed practitioner Robert Drysdale and recently returned from Thailand where he spent time with the famous Tiger Muay Thai team.
Harris is the oldest member of Team Canada, three years older than coach Patrick Cote, and although many veterans are set in their ways, Harris said he went into the show with a willingness to learn.
“Training wise I actually went there with a very open mind,” Harris explained. “Even with grappling, I’m of the mindset that I can learn from anyone. Not just there, but at home on a daily basis.”
Harris trains out of his Hayabusa Training Centre in Alberta and was expecting things to be quite different on TUF, but felt his experience in the sport would help him in an unfamiliar setting.
“I knew training with a completely different team of guys would be challenging,” Harris said. “[Experience] is always going to give you that confidence having high-level fights before and having had experience training with a lot of different guys.”
Although being at the TUF gym was a new environment, Harris had previous experience working with Cote. In fact, prior to his last fight at UFC 158, Cote travelled to Alberta to train with Harris and the Hayabusa Team for two weeks.
In a way, Harris’s entire TUF Nations experience was his career coming full circle. When he began learning BJJ many years ago, he trained with Fabio Holanda, who happened to be one of Cote’s assistant coaches for Team Canada. Harris said Cote, Holanda, plus Kru Ash and David Zilberman helped him tremendously during his time on the show.
Just as his TUF coaches have taught him some new tricks, Harris also loves helping fighters evolve. For fans who have watched this season of TUF, that’s something they’ll have noticed that about Harris.
“That’s kind of my role,” Harris said. “I’m used to being a coach and a mentor to these guys and help a lot of these guys out. That’s just a big part of who I am.”
Harris doesn’t fight merely to accomplish personal goals he sets for himself. Outside of what his appearance on TUF could mean for his career inside the cage, there are several things Harris believes could benefit from his appearance on a show like this.
He’s is in a unique situation compared to many pro fighters because he does not need to fight to pay the bills. Harris is the founder of Hayabusa Fightwear, one of the most popular MMA brands approved worn by many UFC fighters and fans.
“I’m not sure so much what [being on TUF] will mean for Hayabusa Fightwear, we’re already a very established brand within the UFC, but for the Hayabusa Training Centre, my gym, and the guys there … it really paves a way for guys on the team,” he said.
Harris trains with and teaches a stable of 25 pros that he has high hopes for. Some of his regular training partners include UFC veterans Ryan Jimmo, Mitch Clarke and Nick Penner, and Harris says there are several more of his fighters on the rise.
“Lightweight, welterweight and middleweight we have quite a few guys that are going to do really well in this sport,” said Harris, who added that Chase Degenhardt and K.B. Bhullar among others could soon get a shot in the the UFC.
“I’m in a different position than a lot of these guys [on TUF],” Harris added. “A lot of the guys are doing it for different reasons, maybe fame or to get on TV. I already have a gym, I already have a fight wear company, all these things. I don’t really care about that. I’m in it because I love to fight; I enjoy the sport. Even when I do stop fighting, I don’t think I’ll ever stop training.”
Regardless of what happens on the show and how far Harris goes in the tournament, martial arts is a part of who Harris is and that won’t change anytime soon.
