Gerald Harris

Harris faced Anatoly Tokov at Bellator 218 on March 22, 2019. Harris managed to drop Tokov during the fight, but Tokov recovered and eventually submitted Harris via ten-finger guillotine choke. Following the loss, Harris announced that the fight was the last fight of his contract, and retired for the second time in his career.

Despite retiring earlier in 2019, Harris returned to the competition again with hopes to jumpstart his career and faced Seth Baczynski at C3 Fights 48 on November 23, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision and once again declared his retirement from the sport.

Harris stepped in as a last-minute replaced for John Salter against Rafael Lovato Jr. at Bellator 198 on April 28, 2018. Due to the lateness of the booking, the bout was contested at a catchweight of 188 pounds. Harris lost the bout via submission in the first round. Soon after the Lovato fight, Harris signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator.

In his second fight for the promotion, Harris faced Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 202 on July 13, 2018, losing via unanimous decision.

On October 21, 2017, Harris stepped into the cage for his last professional fight against Matt McKeon at Xtreme Fight Night at Tulsa Oklahoma. He went into retirement with a win via a violent slam.

After two-and-a-half years away from the sport, Harris returned to active competition in December 2016. He faced Aaron Cobb at Legacy Fighting Championship 63 on December 2, 2016. What was originally scheduled to be a welterweight bout turned into a heavyweight bout after Cobb missed weight by showing up more than 50 pounds above the welterweight limit. Harris won the fight via knockout due to a slam in the first minute of the first round.

Harris announced his retirement from MMA on April 22, 2014.

Harris fought Eric Davila on Feb. 24, 2012 in the main event of Legacy Fighting Championship 10. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Harris fought Mike Bronzoulis in his welterweight debut on May 11, 2012 at Legacy Fighting Championship 11. He defeated Bronzoulis by split decision.

Harris signed with World Series of Fighting in late 2012 and made his promotional debut at WSOF 1 on November 3, 2012 against Josh Burkman. Harris lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Harris is married to his wife Nicci and they have a blended family of 8 children. Previously in an interview, Harris revealed that his biological children were taken away from him the weekend he fought Josh Burkman in 2012 during his divorce which was eventually overturned and he regained custody. In that same interview he said that he actually didn't retire from the sport in 2013, but was forced on a hiatus due to the ongoing divorce and custody issues but is now happily married.

Following his release, Harris fought James Head on February 11, 2011 for Oklahoma's Xtreme Fight Night MMA. The fight was back and forth throughout the three rounds. Harris lost the fight via decision.

On July 25, 2011, Harris announced on his personal Twitter that he had signed a multi-fight deal with Japanese promotion, DREAM. In his debut, Harris faced fellow UFC veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura at Dream 17. He won the fight via split decision.

He was set to make his debut for the UFC against Mike Massenzio on January 11, 2010 at UFC Fight Night 20, replacing an injured Tim Credeur. Instead he fought John Salter, who stepped in for the injured Massenzio. He would later go on to defeat Salter by TKO in the third round and win Knockout of the Night.

In his second appearance in the UFC, he fought on the UFC Fight Night 21 card against recent signing Mario Miranda. The fight took place March 31, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Harris won the fight by TKO due to punches in the first round.

Harris was expected to face Alessio Sakara on August 28, 2010 at UFC 118, replacing an injured Jorge Rivera. However, Sakara was also forced off the card with an injury and replaced by Joe Vedepo. Then on August 18, it was announced that the Harris/Vedepo bout had been scrapped from the card. Harris was brought in as an alternative for the week of the event, and was given a fight purse for dieting, training and flying out to Boston.

Once again, Harris faced a UFC newcomer in Maiquel Falcão on November 20, 2010 at UFC 123 Harris lost the fight via unanimous decision and in a surprising move to many observers, was subsequently released by the promotion despite having won all 3 of his fights in it.

Gerald's brother Corey was killed in March 2009. A teenage driver making a quick left turn had collided with his motorcycle, killing him instantly. Despite this Gerald fought 7 days later and dedicated his victory to his brother. Gerald Harris also teaches Social Studies at Union High School in Tulsa, OK.

Harris stumbled into mixed martial arts by accident after a friend convinced him to do it for fun and with Harris needing money, he agreed. He took an exhibition fight for $200, with the money he bought a "ragged Mustang to get around town." He beat his opponent so badly that he was invited to join the tournament and thus his professional fighting career began in August 2006. Harris won his first five matches before losing a controversial split decision to Fabio Leopoldo in his IFL debut.

Gerald Harris (born November 19, 1979) is an American retired mixed martial artist and current high school science teacher, who most recently fought in Bellator. He was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 and has also competed in World Series of Fighting, the UFC, DREAM, the Portland Wolfpack in the IFL, Shark Fights, Tachi Palace Fights, and Legacy Fighting Championship.