Harold Clarence Howard is a Richmond Hill native of Canada. Howard
gravitated to security jobs in bars and taught martial arts. By age 19
he was the top guard at the Black Hawk Down Motor Inn. Howard won the
1984 World Heavyweight Jiu Jitsu Championship and became a 3-time
Canada Karate Champion. With a background in point-fighting, Howard
never competed in full-contact competition. His successes as a
kick-boxer caught the attention of Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG),
then owner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which began
promoting Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fights in 1993. In 1994, a SEG
employee was sent to Howard's home in Niagara Falls with an invitation
to compete. Howard was busy teaching in Michigan, resulting in his wife
accepting for him.
In the 1980s, Howard developed an addiction to medication he had used
for back pains and later had surgery. Intrigued by MMA, which was a new
sport in North America, Howard agreed to compete at
UFC 3: The American Dream (1994)
where he made an impression in a pre-fight promotional video: "We have
a saying back home that if you're coming on, come on!" Howard was
undaunted when he found out that his opponent , Muay Thai fighter
Roland Payne, had more experience than him
in full contact fighting. Payne got a quick take-down which Howard
stood up from, and Payne secured two more take-downs which Howard
reversed. They stood up and Payne landed a knee then two body kicks.
Howard connected with a succession of five punches to Payne's face and
one more on the ground to win by knockout. Howard was eager to fight
two-time Ultimate Fighting Champion
Royce Gracie in a semi-final bout, however
Gracie was injured from a demanding win over
Kimo Leopoldo. Gracie and his team came to
the octagon cage where Howard was waiting, then forfeited the match.
Howard advanced to the finals where he was scheduled against
Ken Shamrock for the title of UFC Champion.
Shamrock had sought revenge against Gracie from
UFC 1: The Beginning (1993).
Physically hurt from two previous bouts, Shamrock declined to continue
after Gracie's exit from the tournament. Howard went to the finals of
UFC 3 with one win. Alternate fighter
Steve Jennum was brought in without
fighting beforehand. Howard connected with a right-hand. Jennum, who
had some ground-fighting experience, pushed Howard to the cage. Howard
locked on a guillotine choke and was taken down. Jennum escaped and
landed punches on Howard when they stood up. Howard fell from Jennum's
leg trip. Howard raised his hands to defend from Jennum whom had a full
mount, then tapped the mat in submission about the same his corner
threw in two towels.
Howard did not compete again until his match with
Mark Hall at
UFC VII: Brawl in Buffalo (1995).
Howard grabbed Hall and punched him with right hands then a leg trip to
the ground. Howard was briefly on top until Hall immediately reversed
the position. Hall attacked with punches and bloodied Howard's mouth.
Howard raised his arms and crossed them to submit in under two minutes.
Howard's last bout was for the Universal Vale Tudo Heavyweight
Championship in 1996. Hugo Duarte ran in and
took him down. Howard's left hand was caught outside the ropes and
could not defend against Duarte's punches, resulting in him using his
right hand to tap the mat in 30 seconds.
Howard resumed life outside of competition as a martial arts instructor
at his school, Howard Self-Defense Systems, and repairing roofs. Pain
issues reemerged in 1997 when he was hit by a drunken driver while
waiting in a line at Ontario Place, an amusement park. The severity of
the accident made him take medicine for inflammation, pain, and
sleeping. Howard unsuccessfully sued for 7 years in a costly process
which almost made him lose his home. Further problems started in
October 2009, according to his former wife. Howard, whom resided in
Niagara Falls, became paranoid and attacked her. Howard stayed with his
sister after he was arrested and released. That December, Howard made
an unexpected visit to the offices of the "Toronto Star" newspaper,
saying incoherent things. Almost two weeks later he attacked his sister
and her son with a hammer, resulting in a broken finger and large cuts
among them. Howard's nephew fought back and Howard left for his former
home. Howard drove his truck into a hedge and a car parked in a
driveway. After a confrontation with his son and and son's mother,
Howard drove away and later crashed into the walls of Niagara Fallsview
Casino. Howard was arrested and later said he had no memory of the
incidents. There were a multitude charges against him: two counts of
attempted murder, two counts of assault with a weapon, attempted break
and enter, failure to remain, flight from police, dangerous operation
of a motor vehicle, mischief and two counts breach of recognizance. In
April 2010 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, aggravated assault,
and assault causing bodily harm. Howard was sentenced to 5 years of
incarceration.
