The Proust Questionnaire: Titan FC featherweight champ Andre “The Bull” Harrison
Undefeated in twelve professional bouts, Andre “The Bull” Harrison had aspirations to pursue a career in law before becoming a full-time mixed martial artist. The 28-year-old Long Islander has many athletic laurels to his name including placing third at the NCAA Division II national championships in 2011, two amateur MMA lightweight titles and the Ring of Combat featherweight title. He currently is the reigning Titan Fighting Championship featherweight champion and will be defending his title this Friday, June 10, against Deivison “Dragon” Francisco Ribeirio at Titan FC 39: Healy vs. Cavalcante at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
Here, the fighter talks torn biceps, singing, tough animals and how to best deal with haters.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Hanging out with my daughter with a UFC belt around my waist.
What is your greatest fear?
Being homeless.
What historical figure do you most identify with?
Muhammad Ali.
Which living person do you most admire?
[Bellmore Kickboxing Academy owner/trainer] Keith Trimble.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel.
What is your favorite journey?
The road to the fight. There are so many things that happen in a fight camp that people who don’t do it just wouldn’t understand.
On what occasion do you lie?
When I tell people I’m going to call them right back.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Trust.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I tore my bicep, so it’s a little short, but it’s 120 percent right now.
Which living person do you most despise?
Usually if I don’t like somebody I just tune them out.
What words or phrases do you most overuse?
Push yourself.
What is your greatest regret?
I don’t regret anything. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, both good and bad, so certain bad things that happened to me or because of me, I feel like I wouldn’t be who I am if it didn’t happen.
When and where were you happiest?
Now. I have my own place. I have my own car. I’m doing well fighting. I work at the gym. I’m here every day. I’m happy.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I could sing. I sing all the time, it just doesn’t sound too well.
What is your current state of mind?
Relaxed. I sparred this morning so I feel a lot better.
What is your greatest achievement?
Winning the freestyle state title back in high school.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
I would hope like a tough animal—a lion or bull or something like that.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Sarcasm.
What do you value in your friends?
There’s a lot there. My friends aren’t just friends. It’s a brotherhood for real, for real. Just time. I think we put a significant amount of time into each other where we all know each other, trust each other and would do anything at the drop of a dime for each other.
What is your motto?
I was actually listening to a thing the other day and it said—I have it written down on the board at my house—it said, “If there’s no enemy within, the enemy without can do us no harm.” I feel that just has so many meanings in that one thing. I read it to myself every morning when I wake up.
Andre “The Bull” Harrison will face Deivison “Dragon” Francisco Ribeirio this Friday, June 10, in the co-main event at Titan FC 39: Healy vs. Cavalcante at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. The event, which will stream live on UFCFightPass.com, begins at 7PM/4PM ET|PT. For more information, visit TitanFighting.com.
Andre Harrison would like to thank his sponsor, Mark Bloom’s Net Worth Realty; his training camp, Bellmore Kickboxing MMA, where trains alongside fighter Gian Villante, Costas Philloppou, Dennis Bermudez, Ryan LaFlare and Alp Ozkilic under head coach Keith Trimble; and Dr. Michael Camp of Bethpage Physical Therapy.
