Big Ticket Walt Harris of ATT ready for UFC 197
A standout basketball player in high school and college, the 6-5, 250-pound Walt Harris has made a transition from the court to the cage, earning a spot on UFC 197 on Saturday, April 23 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Aptly nicknamed The Big Ticket, Harris (7-4 with seven knockouts) fights The Freight Train Cody East (12-1 with eight knockouts) in a heavyweight battle during the UFC Fight Pass early prelims.
Originally from Birmingham, Ala., Harris, 32, trains at American Top Team in (South Florida) Coconut Creek. East, 27, is from Los Lunas, New Mexico.
Harris paid his dues, moving furniture and working for UPS to supplement his income while becoming an MMA fighter. His mom, Vivian, is his biggest fan.
UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux
- UFC 197
Saturday, April 23
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas
TV: Live on Pay-Per-View and FS1
The main card begins 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view
Jon Bones Jones vs. Ovince Saint Preux
No.1 pound-for-pound fighter Jones (21-1) looks to claim the interim title and get another crack at rival Daniel Cormier
o Riding a 12-fight winning streak, including a win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 182
o Youngest fighter to become UFC champion (23-years-old)
o Currently third with consecutive successful title defenses (8) behind only Anderson Silva and
No. 6 light heavyweight SAINT PREUX (19-7) hopes to upset the pound-for-pound best
o Has finished 14 of his 19 victories, 10 by way of knockout
o 12 first round finishes
o Played NCAA Div. 1 football at the University of Tennessee
Mighty Mouse Demetrious Johnson vs. The Messenger Henry Cejudo
Johnson (22-2-1) looks to defend his 125-pound title for the eighth straight time
o First and only flyweight champion in UFC history
o Ranked No.2 in the pound-for-pound rankings
o A win will tie him with Jones for third most consecutive successful title defenses (8)
No.2 Cejudo (10-0) hopes to remain undefeated and become the first Olympic gold medalist to claim UFC gold
o Youngest American wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal (21-years-old – 2008 Beijing)
o Had no amateur fights and is unbeaten as a professional with four knockouts
o A win would place him amongst combat sports all-time greats
Showtime Anthony Petis vs. Junior Edson Barboza
Robert Whittaker vs. Sapo Rafael Natal
El Pantera Yair Rodriguez vs. Touchy Andre Fili
The prelims start 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1
The UFC Fight Pass early prelims are 6:30 p.m. ET
The Big Ticket Walt Harris of American Top Team (South Florida-Coconut Creek) vs. The Freight Train Cody East
Twitter: @thebigticket205
Twitter: UFC
- Fighting On The Web
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/
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This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Big Ticket Walt Harris of ATT ready for UFC 197."