Who Is Dada 5000? Complete FAQ
Dada 5000 -- real name Dhafir Harris -- is a Miami backyard fighting legend, MMA fighter, and co-founder of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (formerly BYB Extreme). He is best known for his rivalry with Kimbo Slice, his near-death experience after a Bellator fight, and his role in building the backyard-to-professional fighter pipeline in South Florida.
Who is Dada 5000?
Dhafir Harris, known as Dada 5000, was born on September 2, 1977, in Miami, Florida. He grew up in the Perrine neighborhood of southern Miami-Dade County -- the same area where Kimbo Slice built his reputation. Dada earned his nickname from a combination of a childhood name and his street address (5000 block).
Before fighting, Harris worked in various jobs in the Miami area. He entered the backyard fighting scene in the mid-2000s, running his own organization called DADA 5000's Backyard Brawls, which staged fights in the neighborhoods of South Florida.
What is Dada 5000's connection to Kimbo Slice?
Dada 5000 and Kimbo Slice came up through the same Miami backyard fighting scene and had a genuine personal rivalry that predated their professional careers. Their conflict was not manufactured for television -- it was rooted in real animosity from the streets of southern Miami-Dade County.
The two fought twice professionally under the Bellator banner:
- Bellator 138 (June 2015): Kimbo defeated Dada by TKO in the third round, though the result was later overturned to a no contest after Kimbo tested positive for nandrolone.
- Bellator 149 (February 2016): Kimbo knocked out Dada in the first round.
Both fights were widely criticized for their low technical quality, but they carried enormous cultural significance as the collision of two backyard fighting legends on a professional stage.
What happened to Dada 5000 after the Kimbo Slice fight?
After the second Bellator fight against Kimbo Slice in February 2016, Dada 5000 suffered heart failure and kidney failure. He was hospitalized in critical condition and was clinically dead for a period before being revived. Harris spent weeks recovering and has spoken publicly about the experience, describing it as a near-death event that fundamentally changed his perspective on fighting.
The medical crisis was attributed to extreme weight cutting and dehydration before the fight, combined with the physical stress of combat. Dada reportedly cut from approximately 280 pounds to 250 pounds in a short period, placing enormous strain on his cardiovascular system.
What is BYB Extreme / BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing?
Dada 5000 co-founded BYB Extreme Fighting Series in 2015 with Mike Vazquez. The organization was designed to bring backyard fighting from the streets into a regulated, professional setting. BYB's signature feature was the Trigon -- a triangular fighting area that distinguished it from the standard ring or cage.
In May 2024, BYB acquired the UK-based BKB (Bare Knuckle Boxing), creating the largest bare knuckle company by combined roster and content library. The organization rebranded to BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing in February 2025. Dada 5000 remains involved with the promotion, which has grown into a legitimate competitor to BKFC in the bare knuckle space.
What is Dada 5000's fighting record?
Dada 5000's professional MMA record is 2-0 (1 NC). His professional record does not reflect his extensive backyard fighting history, which includes numerous unsanctioned bouts in the Miami area that were never officially recorded.
His most significant fights were the two Bellator bouts against Kimbo Slice, which elevated the backyard fighting rivalry to a mainstream audience.
Why is Dada 5000 important to underground fighting?
Dada 5000's significance extends beyond his fighting record:
- Backyard-to-professional pipeline. Dada was one of the first fighters to successfully transition from backyard fighting to professional MMA competition. His pathway -- street fights to viral content to Bellator -- demonstrated that the underground scene could produce fighters capable of competing on major platforms.
- Organizational innovation. By co-founding BYB Extreme (now BKB), Dada created a professional home for fighters who came from backyard and underground backgrounds. The organization gave street fighters a legitimate career path.
- Cultural representation. Dada 5000 represented a specific community -- working-class Black men from South Florida's roughest neighborhoods -- in a sport that has historically been dominated by fighters from traditional martial arts backgrounds.
Is Dada 5000 still fighting?
As of early 2026, Dada 5000 is no longer an active fighter. His focus has shifted to his role with BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, where he serves as a co-founder and organizational figure. The heart failure he suffered in 2016 effectively ended his competitive fighting career, though he remains deeply involved in the business side of combat sports.
Where is Dada 5000 from?
Dada 5000 is from the Perrine neighborhood of Miami, Florida -- specifically the 5000 block that gave him his nickname. Perrine is a community in southern Miami-Dade County with a long history of poverty, crime, and limited economic opportunity. The backyard fighting scene that produced both Dada 5000 and Kimbo Slice grew directly out of this environment.
For more on Dada 5000's famous rival, see our Kimbo Slice FAQ. For the broader history of backyard fighting, see our history of backyard fighting in America.