John Howard (born March 1, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division of the Eagle Fighting Championship.

Howard was born and raised by his single mother along with his brother in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, where he still resides to this day.

He found martial arts after going to a Job Corps to get his high school diploma, where he learned grappling from a freestyle grappler.

[3] Howard once sparred against Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a boxer, when the two trained at Wai Kru Mixed Martial Arts in Boston.

Howard was defeated by Jake Ellenberger via third round TKO due to doctor stoppage at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.

Howard's next title defense was at CES MMA: Path to Destruction, against Jason Louck.

On July 17, 2013, it was announced that he would appear on the card, replacing Josh Samman in a Middleweight bout against Uriah Hall.

Howard was then expected to face Rick Story at UFC Fight Night 45 on July 16, 2014.

[16] However, he was forced from the bout due to injury and was replaced by returning veteran Leonardo Mafra.

[20] However, on June 23, Thatch was pulled from that bout in favor of a fight with Gunnar Nelson as his scheduled opponent John Hathaway was forced out with injury.

Later that year, at the 2018 PFL Middleweight Quarterfinal bout, Howard faced Eddie Gordon and won the fight via unanimous decision.

However, at PFL 10 on October 20, 2018, Howard's bout with Louis Taylor ended in a technical draw due to an illegal knee.

To start off the 2019 season on May 9, 2019, at PFL 1, Howard faced Magomed Magomedkerimov, losing the bout via guillotine choke at the end of the first round.

[27] On July 11, 2019, at PFL 4, he faced Ray Cooper III, winning the bout after knocking him out in the first round.

[28] However, his next fight against David Michaud at PFL 7 on October 11, 2019, resulted in a loss via unanimous decision.

[33] In 2016, after undergoing a series of non-invasive neurological tests, Howard was diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder at the age of 33.