# Jared Gooden

Jared Alexander Gooden (born December 5, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional 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 years 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.

## Mixed martial arts career
### 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 31, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland. He won the fight via knockout in round one.
Gooden faced Randy Brown on October 9, 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 faced Chidi Njokuani on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. At the weigh-ins, Gooden weighed in at 172.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Gooden was fined 20 percent of his purse which went to Njokuani. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
On December 21, 2024, it was reported that Gooden was removed from the UFC roster.

## Championships and accomplishments
### 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

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 33 matches | 23 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 2 |
| By submission | 7 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 8 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 23–10 | Chidi Njokuani | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira | October 12, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (172.5 lb) bout; Gooden missed weight. |
| Win | 23–9 | Wellington Turman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan | December 2, 2023 | 2 | 1:11 | Austin, Texas, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 22–9 | Carlston Harris | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | March 11, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (177 lb) bout; Gooden missed weight. |
| Win | 22–8 | Demarques Jackson | TKO (punches) | United Fight League 1 | February 18, 2023 | 2 | 0:50 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Return to Welterweight. UFL Welterweight Grand Prix Quarter-finals |
| Win | 21–8 | Doug Usher | TKO (injury) | NFC 150 | October 15, 2022 | 2 | 4:55 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Won the NFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 20–8 | Impa Kasanganay | TKO (punches) | XMMA 5 | July 23, 2022 | 1 | 3:16 | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 20–7 | Curtis Millender | TKO (leg kick and punches) | XMMA 4 | April 2, 2022 | 2 | 0:16 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 19–7 | Aaron Highbaugh | Decision (unanimous) | Jorge Masvidal's iKON FC 1 | January 21, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 18–7 | Randy Brown | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Rodriguez | October 9, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (174 lb) bout; Gooden missed weight. |
| Win | 18–6 | Niklas Stolze | KO (punch) | UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland | July 31, 2021 | 1 | 1:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–6 | Abubakar Nurmagomedov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 260 | March 27, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–5 | Alan Jouban | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 255 | November 21, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Trent McCown | TKO (punches and elbows) | Titan FC 62 | July 23, 2020 | 2 | 2:31 | Miami, Florida, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 16–4 | Jay Jackson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Empire FC 5 | February 29, 2020 | 1 | 1:45 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 | Marcel Stamps | Submission (guillotine choke) | Island Fights 60 | October 10, 2019 | 2 | 2:18 | Columbus, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 14–4 | Bruno Oliveira | TKO (punches and knee) | Titan FC 55 | June 28, 2019 | 1 | 0:53 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Win | 14–3 | Will Santiago | TKO (knee and punches) | JacksonWink Fight Night 5 | May 10, 2019 | 1 | 0:28 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 13–3 | Michael Graves | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 53 | March 15, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | For the interim Titan FC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–2 | Steven Newell | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 59 | February 1, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |
| Win | 12–2 | Cody Wilson | TKO (superman punch) | 864 Fighting Championship 7 | September 29, 2018 | 3 | 0:24 | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Ladarious Jackson | KO (flying knee) | NFC 108 | June 22, 2018 | 3 | 0:07 | Kennesaw, Georgia, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 10–2 | Sean Kilgus | TKO (punches) | NFC 105 | March 30, 2018 | 1 | 4:59 | Kennesaw, Georgia, United States | Defended the NFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–2 | Elijah Wynter | Decision (unanimous) | NFC 99 | September 22, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Won the NFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–2 | Wesley Golden | Submission (rear-naked choke) | NFC 96 | June 30, 2017 | 2 | 1:53 | Kennesaw, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Julien Williams | Decision (unanimous) | NFC 94 | April 22, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Micah Miller | Decision (unanimous) | NFC 89 | December 9, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Dave Vitkay | Decision (unanimous) | NFC 86 | August 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | For the NFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Amir Dadovic | Decision (unanimous) | NFC 84 | June 11, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Tanner Saraceno | TKO (punches) | NFC 83 | March 25, 2016 | 2 | 1:45 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Smith Amisial | Submission (rear-naked choke) | OCF Fight Night 1 | January 22, 2016 | 2 | 2:09 | Fern Park, Florida, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 3–0 | Nick Poythress | TKO (doctor stoppage) | NFC 80 | December 5, 2015 | 3 | 3:10 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Brad Taylor | Submission (armbar) | Legacy FC 47 | October 16, 2015 | 3 | 2:01 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Bobby Tucker | Submission (triangle choke) | NFC 76 | August 8, 2015 | 2 | 4:02 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Welterweight debut. |