Props: Boston Herald

Quoteworthy:

"It was amazing ... Dreams come true. I still can’t believe it. Every day I wake up and I thank God, because for that to happen -- for someone to go to the UFC for the first time and get that ["Fight of the Night"] bonus -- is unbelievable.... It was a blessing from God because I was struggling. I was poor. I’m still poor. I made some money but I came from a poor background. I had to work hard for everything I have.... Back then [UFC 94], that type of money was life-changing. It helped me a lot to train harder and be more focused on my fights. I just thank Dana White and (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva for that. It really helped me and my kids out so much.... I can give them something more than I had myself. It’s an opportunity to give them something better.... I’m trying to go for it again. I’m going for the win, but I’d like to go all-out for the bonus. I’m just going to try to go out there and do my thing."

UFC welterweight John Howard describes his troubles outside the Octagon and how his performance inside it is making life better for him and his three young daughters. Howard earned a $65,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus in his debut for the promotion against Chris Wilson at UFC 94 earlier this year, winning a unanimous decision and taking home a total of $71,000 for 15 minutes of hard work. The Boston-area native will look to keep the dream alive when he takes on Tamdan McCrory at UFC 101 from the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa., this weekend. He'll also look to extend his win streak to five against "The Barncat."