UFC: Alistair Overeem gets TKO as emotional Walt Harris pays tribute to dead stepdaughter Aniah Blanchard

‘The Big Ticket’ is overcome with emotion after second-round TKO, as Overeem shares embrace with the American

‘Thank you to the UFC. My wife and I owe you everything, we’re so grateful,’ says Harris

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Alistair Overeem consoles Walt Harris after their heavyweight bout at UFC on ESPN. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:42pm, 17 May 2020Updated: 12:36am, 18 May 2020

No matter the result, Walt Harris was always going to be a winner this weekend.

“The Big Ticket” (13-8, one no contest) may have lost by second-round TKO to Alistair Overeem (46-18, one no contest) in the main event of UFC on ESPN in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday night, but just stepping into the Octagon was a true victory for the American.

This heavyweight scrap was of course originally scheduled for last November. But the UFC called it off after Harris’ 19-year-old stepdaughter, Aniah Blanchard, went missing in Auburn, Alabama on October 23. Tragically, Blanchard’s skeletal remains were found a month later. Three people were arrested in connection with the incident.

“First, I just wanna say thank you to the UFC, they’ve been amazing through this whole process,” Harris told Paul Felder in an emotional post-fight interview as he struggled to hold back tears in the Octagon. “My wife and family are so grateful. We owe you everything.”

After referee Dan Miragliotta stepped in at three minutes of the second-round, as Overeem landed shot after shot, Harris could not bear to stand up. He stayed on his knees, face on the canvas, overcome with emotion, with “The Demolition Man” dropping down to console his opponent.

“I wanna thank my gym and my coach, I love you so much brother,” Harris added. “He was with me every day. My teammates, my brothers, I love you all so much. My community, Auburn, I love you guys. Sorry I didn’t get the W tonight. You’ve been with my family through everything, I’m so grateful.