Going out on a limb, UFC heavyweight Walt Harris believes he’s reinvented himself.

It’s been six months since “The Big Ticket” was last in action. The Alabaman behemoth toppled fellow big man Daniel Spitz, winning the bout via third round TKO. With a different opponent, Harris feels the fight could have been more emphatic.

“I thought it was a good performance, but I wasn’t really able to show everything off,” Harris said in an interview with FloCombat. “Daniel [Spitz] wasn’t really down to engage as much. I just thought it was a good performance overall. I just want to keep that streak rolling and the energy going. A ‘W’ solves a lot of problems.”

Snapping a two-fight skid, Harris found himself back in the win column. Despite the successful outing, “The Big Ticket” wasn’t satisfied in the direction his skill progression was headed. The 35-year-old yearned for fresh scenery.

“I made a gym change and it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my career,” Harris said. “Everything is clicking and I’m in a great place, mentally, physically. I’m grinding every day. I’m just happy and excited.”

Harris is now training alongside longtime friend and Alabama University football standout Eryk Anders at Spartan MMA. Things coming full circle, Harris was actually one of the first people to introduce Anders to mixed martial arts.

“Sharing the mats with a guy like that, it pushes your game to another level,” Harris said. “The way he works and the commitment to his craft—being better and the best at what he does, it’s infectious. It’s been the best thing for you.”

Saturday night, Harris has the chance to show off his newly crafted arsenal. In doing so, he could enter the UFC rankings with a big win over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arovski.

“It’s the chance I’ve been waiting on my whole career,” Harris said. “I followed Andrei’s career before I started fighting, but I’m coming to take his head off. He’s in the way of what I want.

“I think he’ll be pleasantly surprised by what I’m bringing to the fight because he’s training at [American] Top Team. He’s only gotten so much info. It’s going to be fun on December 29th to match wits with somebody on that level.”