John Howard (fighter) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Howard |
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John "Doomsday" Howard in 2025
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| Born | March 1, 1983 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Other names | Doomsday |
| Residence | Boston, MA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 171 lb (78 kg; 12.2 st) |
| Division | Welterweight Middleweight |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Team | Doomsday Defense Dojo, Ginsberg Academy BJJ |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 49 |
| Wins | 29 |
| By knockout | 10 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 12 |
| Losses | 19 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 13 |
| Draws | 1 |
John Howard (born March 1, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is known for competing in the Middleweight division. John Howard has fought in many big organizations since 2004. These include the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the Professional Fighters League. He is also known by his nickname, "Doomsday."
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About John Howard
John Howard grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, with his mother and sister. He played football and basketball in high school. After school, he found martial arts and started training. He became very good at wrestling and takedowns in MMA. This was special because he didn't have a wrestling background before.
Why He's Called "Doomsday"
John Howard's nickname, "Doomsday," came from his friend Henry Ainslie. They were talking about strong comic book villains. The name "Doomsday" stuck because it sounded powerful. It was inspired by the character who fought Superman. In his first fight, the announcer accidentally called him "John, The Doomsday." Later, it was changed to "John 'Doomsday' Howard," which is what everyone knows him by now.
Training and Coaches
Throughout his career, John Howard has trained with many great coaches and teams. He has trained in different countries like Thailand and Brazil. He also trained in many places across the United States.
Some of the gyms he has trained at include:
- Ginsberg Academy Jujitsu in Cambridge, MA
- Waikru MMA in Allston, MA
- Sityodtong Muay Thai / MMA in Somerville, MA
- Team Grudge in Denver, CO
He has also worked with famous coaches and training partners. These include John Allen, David Ginsberg, and former UFC fighter Jorge Rivera.
His Own Gym: Doomsday Defense Dojo
On March 1, 2025, John Howard opened his own training center. It is called the Doomsday Defense Dojo. This gym is in South Easton, Massachusetts. It is one of the few mixed martial arts schools in the area owned by a Black person.
The Doomsday Defense Dojo is a place for the community. It offers training for kids, adults, and people who want to become professional fighters. Besides MMA, the gym also has fitness programs. It teaches self-defense classes too.
John Howard said that opening his gym was a dream come true. He wants it to help people build confidence. He also wants it to teach them how to protect themselves.
Helping Others: Autism Advocacy
In 2016, when he was 33, John Howard learned he had autism spectrum disorder. This diagnosis helped him understand many things about his life. He said it made sense why he did certain things.
After his diagnosis, John Howard started using his fame to help other athletes with autism. He gives speeches and does interviews. He also makes sure his gym has special training that is good for people with autism. He wants to show that martial arts can help build confidence and communication skills for everyone.
John Howard's MMA Career Highlights
John Howard has had a long and exciting career in mixed martial arts. He has fought in some of the biggest promotions.
Fighting in the UFC
John Howard first joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2009. His first fight was at UFC 94, where he won. He had several exciting fights in the UFC. At UFC 101, he won against Tamdan McCrory. He also got a big knockout win against Dennis Hallman at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale.
In 2010, he knocked out Daniel Roberts in the first round. This earned him the "Knockout of the Night" award. After some tough losses, he left the UFC for a while.
Winning Championships Outside the UFC
After leaving the UFC, John Howard fought in other promotions. He joined CES MMA and quickly became a champion. He won the CES Middleweight Championship. He defended his title four times, winning many fights by knockout.
Returning to the UFC
In 2013, John Howard returned to the UFC. He fought Uriah Hall in Boston, his hometown. He won that fight, which was very special for him. He continued to fight in the UFC until 2015.
Other Major Fights
After his second time in the UFC, John Howard fought in other big organizations. He competed in the World Series of Fighting (WSOF). He also joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2018 and 2019. In the PFL, he had some big wins, including a submission victory and a knockout.
Bare-Knuckle Boxing
John Howard also tried bare-knuckle boxing, which is fighting without gloves. He had his first bare-knuckle boxing match in June 2025.
His Life Outside Fighting
John Howard is a father to three daughters. Before becoming a professional fighter, he worked as an electrician. He is a huge fan of sports teams from Boston. He loves the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, and the Boston Bruins. In his free time, he also enjoys playing video games.
Awards and Achievements
John Howard has earned several awards and championships during his career:
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time)
- Knockout of the Night (One time)
- Ring of Combat
- ROC Welterweight Championship (One time)
- CES MMA
- CES Middleweight Championship (One time)
Images for kids
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John "Doomsday" Howard in 2025
