Dada 5000

Dhafir “DaDa 5000” Harris was born August 4, 1978 to Ellen Stewart and Sam Harris in Freeport, Nassau, Bahamas. The youngest of three boys, DaDa 5000 moved to Miami, Florida at the age of twelve where he and his family settled into the Perrine neighborhood.

Dhafir 5000 attended Southwood Middle school and graduated from Palmetto high school in 1997. After graduating from college and receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Barry University, Dhafir spent two years teaching for Miami Dade County working with an at-risk population in alternative education. In addition to this, DaDa 5000 is known in his community and throughout South Florida for his work with young people, serving in a mentorship role.

DaDa 5000 had been forced to defend himself from as early as the second grade. Growing up, fighting and violence was a way of life, and he often engaged. “I would say my street stats are about 47-0.”, remarks DaDa. In 2006, DaDa 5000 began working with fellow high school classmate, Kevin Ferguson, better known as “Kimbo Slice”.

Having watched Kimbo gain international acclaim from his backyard fights, DaDa recognized the opportunity to innovate the backyard venture in a way that would provide opportunities to other amateur fighters in the community. The “Green House”, DaDa’s very own childhood home, emerged as the Mecca of backyard brawls. With the help and support of his mother and family, DaDa began to organize backyard fights where he brokered, promoted, refereed and administrated the fights himself.

DaDa reflects that this venture was not about himself. Oftentimes, he barely broke even between the funds paid out to the fighters and on expenses and the funds that he collected by hosting the event. Instead, having grown up in this area where violence was a way of life, DaDa realized that this open arena would be a means for channeling that violent energy in the form of back yard fights.

DaDa involved the community heavily in his efforts which is credited for why his backyard fights lasted so long. DaDa’s very own neighbors served as vendors for the events. The local police turned a blind eye to the unsanctioned activity as there were no reportable violent crimes being perpetrated at “The Green House”; there was only mutual combat. DaDa was always upfront and truthful with everyone involved, including local authorities.

Due to pressures from Police, State Athletic Authorities, and Professional Promoters and after 21 successful back yard fighting events, 2007, DaDa 5000 hosted his last back yard fight event at the Green House. It was at that time that he began to focus on his own professional MMA career.

DaDa 5000 made his professional debut on March 5, 2010 when he knocked out Cedric “Killer the Gorilla” James at the Hardrock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. The fight lasted two minutes and thirty-four seconds and ended in the first round. Following this, DaDa 5000 knocked out Timothy Pap in fifty seconds at the MFA’s New Generation 4 on February 12, 2011.
That leaves DaDa 5000 standing today with a win-loss record of 2-0-0 and eager to get back into the ring.

DaDa is still active in his community and in continuing his drive to provide people an opportunity to train and an outlet to target their violent energy, DaDa 5000 teamed up with Miami-based boxing and strength-conditioning coach Ray Gunz to open a gym and fight-training facility in Perrine. Brawlers Extreme MMA & Boxing Academy officially opened on July 30th of 2011.

DaDa has also teamed up with Cocaine Cowboys producer Billy Corben for the documentary “Dawg Fights” which chronicles the back yard fighting experience. This is set to be released in November of 2011.