John Howard vs. Thiago Alves Likely at UFC 124
Massachusetts native and UFC welterweight John "Doomsday" Howard is reportedly set to face former #1 contender Thiago Alves at UFC 124 in Montreal, Canada, on the same night Georges St. Pierre takes on Josh Koscheck for the title. News of the fight was first reported by MMAJunkie.com. Both fighters are coming off losses, Alves to Jon Fitch, in a bout where he failed to make weight. Howard suffered a loss via doctor's stoppage to Jake Ellenberger.
Howard had won 4 straight matches in the UFC prior to his loss to Ellenberger at UFC on Versus 2. I thought a win would have given him a match with one of the top welterweights in the world, but it appears that even with the loss he will get a crack at a guy who already has a title shot on his resume.
Alves has now twice failed to make the 171 pound welterweight limit. He always struggles to drop the weight and should perhaps move up to middleweight. If he wants back in the title picture he will undoubtedly need to dominate and likely finish Howard. A loss to Doomsday could send him down the ladder.
The fight is not official yet, but if it goes through it is a great opportunity for the fighting pride of Dorchester, John Howard.
BostonThrowdown.com
