Close on the heels of UFC 175, which saw champions Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey retain their title belts in impressive fashion, North Vancouver’s Curtis Harriott fought his own mixed martial arts battle in a nearby octagon.
Scheduled for five rounds, Harriott defeated opponent Justin Aujla-Fieldt early in the second round by tap-out due to arm bar at Coquitlam’s Hard Rock Casino on July 12, to retain his title belt in the amateur welterweight division of the Battlefield Fight League.
Billed as the provincial MMA league’s co-main event of the evening, the win could mean an important move for Harriott.
“Curtis wants to go as high as he can in competition and is hoping that this last fight will earn him a shot at the pro circuit in the Battlefield Fight League,” explains training partner Dean Lirette.
Harriott, a Lynn Valley resident, was a high school wrestler who has also trained in Jiu jitsu, karate, kickboxing, and Muay Thai for almost nine years.
“He is so well rounded in all different elements. He started off being better at wrestling and jiu jitsu, but now that he’s been working on his striking style he is dangerous all over, including really good kneeing, spin kicks, and very precise boxing,” explains Lirette, who co-owns West Vancouver Martial Arts where Harriott has been training for almost four years.
Harriott, 23, also instructs various levels of martial arts students, ages three and up, at the local dojo.
Among his current trainers, Harriott counts former MMA fighter Bruno Capdeville and former professional fighter Blake Lirette, who has earned several titles in kickboxing, karate, and muay thai, including a world title.
Dean Lirette says training with former professional fighters, including his brother Blake, is an important part of Harriott’s mental game.
“This is very helpful to Curtis as Blake trains him on a lot of mental aspects of fighting and what it takes to be a champion. This is the most important part of Curtis’ guidance if he wants to achieve high levels in MMA.”
Contact Rosalind Duane at [email protected].
