Luke Harris To Fight UFC Vet Gideon Ray June 10 At Aggression MMA
By Andy
Cotterill (andy@mm-eh.ca)
Edmonton’s Luke Harris (6-1) will be taking on UFC vet Gideon Ray (17-13-1) at Aggression MMA 7, June 10th at Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Center.
The
33-year-old Harris, who is also part owner of Hayabusa Fight Wear, has had a rough go over the past
few years having torn both his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in one knee,
and his meniscus in the other about a year apart from each other.
But Harris says that after full reconstructive surgery and some rehabilitation he is now at 100% and ready to fight Ray.
“He’s a
pretty well known name.” Harris told MM-eh. “I’m super excited to fight him,
it’s my first opportunity to fight a guy of this caliber, so I’m really looking
forward to the fight.”
Harris, who has two fights remaining in his contract with the Edmonton-based promotion, says that Ray is just the first step in his overall plan.
“I’d like to keep fighting better opponents all the time working my way to the UFC.” He said. “I’d love to fight in the UFC of course just like anyone else.”
Whereas
for some fighters this might be a pipe-dream, Harris, who has a black belt in
Judo and a brown belt in BJJ, revealed that the UFC already knows exactly who
he is. He had tried out for their “The Ultimate Fighter” television show
in Season 11, but then the injury to his ACL occurred.
“I did tryouts three times and they told me that I was going to be on the show three times, so all the cards have to fall in the right place at the right time.” He said. “I also realize you need the right fights and the right performances to get there.”
He added, “They know exactly who I am and will let me know when I’m ready they’ve got their eyes on me for sure.”
After losing his first ever MMA fight, Harris has gone 6-0 with each of his wins coming by way of submission in the first round, the longest of which lasted 2:38. Ray on the other hand, will be trying to halt a two-fight losing streak.
Harris
says that he doesn’t see this fight going any differently than his last six.
“Just follow my record, it’s going to go the same way I’m sure. If he really works to avoid the takedown he might get knocked out, otherwise I see it going the same way — submission in the first round.”
Luke Harris is sponsored by Hayabusa Fight Wear and Muscletech.