Boston.com chatted with UFC welterweight John “Doomsday’’ Howard, a lifelong Bostonian who’s set to make his return to the Octagon when the UFC takes over the TD Garden on Sunday night.

During the UFC’s last trip to Boston in 2013, Howard upset “The Ultimate Fighter’’ season 17 finalist Uriah Hall with a unanimous decision victory in front of the hometown crowd. The win was an emotional one, as it came just months after the Boston Marathon bombings.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the accused bombers, was a successful amateur boxer who trained at Howard’s gym in Allston. When he asked to spar with Howard, “Doomsday’’ obliged.


In his Origin Story, Howard discusses the encounter. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well for Tsarnaev.