Andre Harrison: WSOF Debut at MSG
Andre Harrison is watching everything he’s worked for come into place this week. The undefeated featherweight with an outstanding record of 14-0 makes his New York City World Series of Fighting debut at no other place but the world-famous Madison Square Garden, on New Years Eve nonetheless.
“I’m excited,” he says, “I was born in New York but started fighting as an amatuer in Colorado, so this is all coming full-circle for me.”
Wrestling since he was in the 7th grade, Harrison was competitive and always looking for a challenge. He began training MMA in 2009, and seven years later, he is preparing to walk into the biggest cage of his life.
“The reason why I love this sport so much is because it is many different disciplines. To be a master at each discipline, such as Jiu-Jitsu or Muay Thai or boxing, just a few of the things that can make up MMA, it can take you anywhere from 10-13 years. You are trying to be the best at everything, and I think that’s one of the greatest challenges you can put yourself through.”
Harrison’s journey was not as straightforward as his love for fighting, however. While growing up in New York, he received a scholarship to Fort Hays State University in Kansas. From Kansas, he went to train as a lightweight in Colorado. Originally slated to go train with Thomas “Wildman” Denny, it was on a visit home to New York that Harrison stumbled across trainer Keith Trimble and Bellmore Kickboxing, and decided to stay for good.
“I had to go all over the country to end up right back here,” he says with a laugh. “But when I went to Bellmore, I found relationships that I realized I did not want to be without. I still trained with Denny and took in a lot of information there, but I felt like I found my family at Bellmore.”
Now ready to debut for World Series of Fighting, Harrison has gotten everything in order, including his management company, Battlescar Management.
“Working with them is the best thing I’ve ever done. I was a part of a different company first, but Battlescar makes me feel so taken care of and looked out for. My manager Matt Culley does whatever it takes to make me happy and makes sure that I am well-protected in every event. You want to have a team that has your back, and these guys are the ones that I trust with everything.”
Dre credits Battlescar Management with “a big hand in getting me this fight at WSOF 34.” He feels as though he is nothing but prepared for this bout.
“Any entertainer, whether you’re a musician or comedian or fighter or anything–performing at Madison Square Garden is a major check off the bucket list. It is one of the greatest things I think you could do.”
With all the hype of going into the fight and the enormous number of fans watching, who does Dre the Bull care about watching him the most?
“My daughter, although I rather her watch the fights afterwards.” He chuckles and says, “She watches the fights and says stuff like, ‘Dad, punch him in the face!’ It’s funny but I want her to know that I’m out there making her proud. I worked really hard to get to where I’m at, and what you see in there is a result of that.”
Check out some behind the scenes footage from Dre The Bull‘s fight camp:
Writer: Pari Aryafar
Video/Edit: Sofia Laurelli
