Titan FC champ Andre Harrison ready for next challenge – and next paycheck – at sport's highest level

Fourteen times in the cage. Fourteen times his hand has been raised. Titan FC featherweight champ Andre Harrison (14-0) has quietly amassed an impressive career record, and he’s ready for the next challenge.

“I believe I belong on at least one of the biggest shows, whether it’s the UFC, Bellator or wherever, but I guess they don’t see it, yet,” Harris recently told MMAjunkie Radio.

A New York native, Harrison turned pro in 2011, cutting his teeth in regional powerhouse Ring of Combat, earning a 7-0 mark. He then moved on to Titan, where he’s also gone undefeated in seven appearances.

He’s put a few recognizable names on his win sheet, including Cody Bollinger, Kurt Holobaugh, Desmond Green, Steven Siler and, most recently, Alexandre Bezerra.

Still, he says, the contract offers have been slow to come.

“I haven’t really had too much connections with Bellator, but I know the UFC, pretty much they tell me the same thing after every fight: Just keep winning,” Harrison said. “I’m like, ‘I’ve been doing that for a little while now. I don’t know what you guys want.’

“(UFC officials) say that they haven’t signed anybody in like two or three years from my division just because of the fact that they simply think he’s a talent. People that get signed to the featherweight division are usually last-minute replacements. So that’s one factor. The other factor is yeah, I don’t have as many finishes as they would like or whatever.”

And therein lies the rub most often cited as an explanation for Harrison’s lengthy run outside the sport’s top promotions. Ten of Harrison’s 14 career wins have come by decision, and he knows that promoters value finishes.

But “The Bull” also hopes the top organizations can take a look at the quality of his opponents and realize there’s something to be gained in acquiring his services.

“I’m not fighting guys that have been or are easily put away and I’m just not doing it,” Harrison said. “A lot of these guys fought a lot of tough guys who also never finished them. What it boils down to me is, the frustrating part, is I could have easily just stayed in the Ring of Combat, for example – or overall just took easy fights anywhere and been 14-0 but fighting guys who don’t really deserve to be out there fighting for one reason or another – and that would be exciting and OK for everybody. But when somebody decides to actually challenge themselves and fight guys who are actually tough, quality opponents and I’m still getting the job done – I’m just not knocking them out or choking them out, then it’s a problem.

“Where’s the silver lining in that?”

Harrison said conversations with top promotions remain ongoing, and he’s hoping this time he’ll actually land a deal. And he insists he doesn’t have a preference where he continues his career.

Harrison just wants a chance to prove he belongs in the organizations that have thus far passed on giving him an opportunity.

“My next step is legitimately all about the money,” Harrison said. “The exposure, or whatever, that’s all well and good. But being famous doesn’t pay bills. I’m a father, too. Being famous or whatever, having people know you when you’re driving through traffic, that doesn’t take my daughter winter clothes shopping.

“Wherever I can go and get the most money, that’s where I’m going to go because that’s what we are: We’re mixed martial artists. We fight for money. So wherever I can get the most money, that’s where I’m going.”

For more on Titan FC’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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