Jared Gooden

Jared Gooden (born December 5, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional mixed martial artist since 2015, Gooden has also competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance and Titan Fighting Championships.

Background
When Jared was 16 years old, he came across Matt Hughes and BJ Penn while flipping channels at his dad's house. He fell in love with the sport after watching the fight. A few year later, Jared saw a MMA fight poster come up on his Facebook feed and emailed the address that appeared on it. He would get a reply from the promoter, David Oblas, asking for his gym, length of training time and MMA record, all of which Jared did not have. David then sent him to a nearby gym run by Phillipe Gentry instead. He walked into Coach Phillipe's gym and started training at 17 years old on June 2, 2011.

Early career
Gooden made his MMA debut at NFC 76, where he submitted Bobby Tucker via rear-naked choke in the second round. Gooden would win his next 5 bouts, before losing to Dave Vitkay at NFC 86 for the NFC Welterweight Championship via unanimous decision. Rebounding with a win via unanimous decision at NFC 89 against Micah Miller, he would lose to Julien Williams at NFC 94 via unanimous decision. Winning his next 7 bouts, culminating his one and only outing with Legacy Fighting Alliance at LFA 59, where he faced Steven Newell and went on to defeat him via unanimous decision. He would then fight at Titan FC 53: Bad Blood, where he faced Michael Graves for the interim Titan FC Welterweight Championship, however he lost the bout via unanimous decision. After defeating Will Santiago Jr via TKO in the first round at Jackson Wink Fight Night 5., he would return to Titan FC at Titan FC 55 against Bruno Oliveira, losing again but this time by TKO in the first round. He would win the next three bouts; tapping out Marcel Stamps in the second round via guillotine at Island Fights 60, Jay Jackson via rear-naked choke in the first at Empire FC 5 and finally Trent McCown via TKO in the 2nd round at Titan FC 62.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Gooden made his UFC debut against Alan Jouban on November 21, 2020, at UFC 255. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Gooden faced Abubakar Nurmagomedov on March 27, 2021, at UFC 260. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Gooden, as a replacement for Mounir Lazzez, faced Niklas Stolze on July 30, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland. He won the fight via knockout in round one.

Gooden faced Randy Brown on October 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 194. At the weight-ins, Jared Gooden weighted 174 pounds, three pounds over the limit of non-championship welterweight bouts. The bout proceeded to a catchweight bout. Gooden was fined 20% of his purse and it went to his opponent Randy Brown. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On January 12, 2022, it was announced that Gooden's contract was not renewed.

Post-UFC
Gooden made his first appearance post-release at iKON FC 1 on January 21, 2022, against Aaron Highbaugh for the iKON FC middleweight title. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Gooden faced Curtis Millender on April 2, 2022, at XMMA 4. He won the bout after dropping Millender in the second round with a leg kick and finishing him with ground and pound.

Gooden faced Impa Kasanganay at XMMA 5 on July 23, 2022. He lost the fight by a first-round TKO stoppage.

Gooden returned in October to face Doug Usher at NFC 150 for the NFC Middleweight Championship, winning the bout in the second round after Usher was unable to continue due to injury.

Gooden faced Demarques Jackson in the Quarter-finals of the Welterweight Grand Prix on February 18, 2023, at United Fight League 1, winning the bout in the second round via TKO stoppage.

Return to UFC
Gooden stepped in on three days notice to face Carlston Harris, replacing Abubakar Nurmagomedov, on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221. At the weigh-ins, Gooden weighed in at 177 pounds, six pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Harris. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Gooden faced Wellington Turman on December 2, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 52. He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round two, and this fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Gooden was scheduled to face Kevin Jousset on May 11, 2024 UFC on ESPN 56. However, for medical reasons, Gooden was unable to compete and the bout was cancelled.

Gooden is scheduled to face Chidi Njokuani on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 246.

Mixed martial arts

 * National Fighting Championship
 * NFC Welterweight Championship (One time)
 * One successful title defence
 * NFC Middleweight Championship (One time)


 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Wellington Turman