The MMA Mental Hall of Fame: Harold Howard
Filed Under (MMA) by admin on 15-01-2009
Tagged Under : Harold Howard, MMA Mental Hall of Fame
One of the more fondly and humorously remembered competitors of the early UFC era is Harold Howard, who fought out of Niagara Falls, Canada.
Despite an average fighting record in the early competitions, Howard earned himself his own version of MMA immortality at UFC 3 when, in staged the pre-fight interviews, he called the Ultimate Fighting Championship the “Ultimate Fighting Challenge” and also revealed a saying from back home in a snarling voice (and sunglasses): If you’re comin’ on… Come on!
It was never verified that anybody else from Niagara Falls (or anywhere in Canada) used that expression, but it didn’t matter. Harold Howard had made his impression, one he would solidify in his first round matchup when he attempted a flip scissor kick that landed him on his back and has become a highlight reel favorite of MMA history buffs. The wife beater he wore into the ring only added to the mystique.
Howard actually made it to the finals of UFC 3 when he was credited with a win over Royce Gracie in the semifinals. Despite winning his earlier matchup, Gracie’s corner threw in the towel before he entered the ring to fight Howard, having been too exhausted and damaged from his previous match to continue.
This prompted two other members of the MMA Mental Hall of Fame to rush into the ring in celebration: Christian fanatic Kimo Leopoldo (the man who had injured Gracie in his last fight) and his shirtless manager, accused gang rapist Joe Son. Howard then lost in the finals to Steve Jennum, an alternate who was placed in the championship match despite not having fought once in the tournament.
To his credit, Harold Howard was one of the more competitive fighters of the early UFC era, a time where there really were no well-rounded mixed martial artists as we see them today. As well, despite stumbling in his interviews and some funny in-the-ring moments, he did a very good job of displaying the sportsmanship (in victory and defeat) that we expect from our mixed martial artists today. He provided some decent fights, some humor, and a pretty good example.