R.J. Harris lives up to reputation in UFC debut
· Yahoo Sports
OKLAHOMA CITY — Those seeing R.J. Harris fight for the first time during UFC Fight Night 281 saw what many around the Muskingum Valley have known for a while.
There is a reason his nickname is "The Hammer."
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Harris, 27, from Zanesville, used a hard uppercut that led to a first-round TKO of Alvin Hines to record his first career win in his UFC debut on July 18 at the Paycom Center. It took just 1:40.
Hines, a Michigan native, was yielding seven inches in reach to the 6-foot-6 Harris, who weighed in on July 17 at 262 pounds. Hines, at 6-2, 265, took the early action to Harris with kicks to the legs and punches from tight quarters.
But Harris, known for his counter attacks, took full advantage of Hines' biggest mistake. Hines missed with a right cross, and Harris responded with an uppercut that landed flush to the left side of Hines' jaw, hard enough to lift both of his feet off the mat.
He went to the mat almost immediately, and Harris landed a flurry of punches to the head that eventually led to the fight being called.
It was the first of a four-fight contract Harris, represented by Iridium Sports Agency, signed with UFC on July 7. He fought previously for Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he was 5-0.
Harris was an All-Ohio nose guard at Zanesville High School, eventually landing a scholarship to Ohio Dominican, where he also served as an H-back. He was a key two-way starter under Chad Grandstaff's 2015 team that won a Division III regional championship.
He also was a state qualifier as a heavyweight in wrestling.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: R.J. Harris lives up to reputation in UFC debut