Harris (photo via Hayabusa Mixed Martial Arts)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Luke Harris was hoping to impress in what was his biggest fight to date last Friday against UFC veteran Edwin Dewees, and in the end, the rising middleweight was able to do it live on the Maximum Fighting Championship’s HDNet broadcast. Harris forced the 50 fight plus vet to tap out at 2:05 of the opening round with a nicely executed guillotine choke, and in the process, extended his overall record to 9-1 (with 1 no contest).

“I feel great,” Harris told FCF. “This was a big step up in the level of competition. I feel it went well; right according to plan. I’m a little surprised that I caught him that early. I was thinking that it would happen a bit later in the fight, but, whatever, I’ll take what I can get.”

Adding importance to the win is the fact that the accomplished grappler was not only able to continue his ten fight undefeated streak, but Harris also recorded his ninth, first round submission victory.

After Dewees came out aggressively with strikes, the Judo black belt and former Canadian National Team member closed the distance and swept the 29 year-old vet to the floor. While working from sidemount, Harris was able to transition into the full mount position and the fight ending choke.

“I sort of faked to go north-south and that’s when he kind of left me an opening to switch to mount,” the 34 year-old Harris recalled about the 195lb. catch-weight bout, which saw Dewees come in 13 pounds overweight. “It’s something we train all the time at the Hayabusa Training Centre. Fake for the north-south, keep the neck, go to mount and finish the guillotine from there.”

“The guys no joke; he’s got 30 wins by submission,” Harris added. “I definitely didn’t think it was going to be easy by any means. Not that it was easy; I think it was a good test.”

Having added a win over a well travelled and established vet like Dewees to his resume, Harris has likely entrenched another high profile bout in his immediate future. What remains to be seen is whether it’s with an international organization or not.

“I’m pretty much a free agent right now,” Harris said. “I signed a one fight deal with the MFC so we’ll see what happens; I’m open to whatever comes our way. I’m hoping these fights will open some doors; it’’s the first time I’ve been on TV in the States so hopefully more people know my name now and have seen what I can do. I’m just looking for the next opportunity.”

“I have to keep in shape for sure,” Harris added, while discussing the prospect of being called in as a short notice replacement. “I’m at the gym full time, I own the Hayabusa Training Centre and teach most of the classes there, but that being said I’m going on a trip to Japan for a week and then Thailand for two weeks, but I still plan on training while I’m there. Honing some skills over there.”

When Harris returns, he will help his Hayabusa teammates Ryan Jimmo and Mitch Clarke prepare for their upcoming UFC 149 bouts, which will take place July 21st in Calgary, Alberta.

“It’s huge,” Harris said, when asked what it means for the St. Albert based gym, to have two of its fighters heading south in the Province for UFC 149. “Basically the gym’s been around four years and seeing all the fighters grow is really exciting. We have guys all the way from starting to compete at amateur, some guys doing grappling tournaments, to guys all the way up to the UFC level, so it’s really exciting.”