The “Nitetrain” left the station for the final time last weekend.
Seven-fight UFC vet Jared Gooden announced this week that he has retired from MMA, stepping away just a few days after he took a loss against three-fight prospect Mahamed Ali on a regional card in Hanover, Maryland.
“I want to take this time to let everybody know that my time has come, I’m walking away from the sport,” Gooden said via Instagram this week. “Thank you to everybody that has helped me along my journey to get me where I have been in life and everything. To be honest with you guys, I just don’t have the love or the passion for it anymore like I used to when I was younger.”
31-year-old Gooden started training in his late teens after discovering UFC fights on TV. At the age of 18 years old, he made his amateur debut in Georgia.
While his first appearance was a loss, Gooden wouldn’t taste defeat again for many years to come. After six straight amateur victories, he continued his momentum through to the pro ranks, where he started off with a six-fight undefeated streak.
He spent five years fighting on the regionals, picking up a title in Georgian-based promotion NFC and winning in prominent spots like Titan FC and LFA. While he stayed on the regionals for longer than most prospects—boasting over 20 pro fights near the end of his time as a free agent—he finally received a call to join the UFC roster by 2020.
Gooden’s first UFC run—all of which took place in the UFC APEX due to the COVID-19 pandemic—was unsuccessful. While he disposed of Niklas Stolze in 68 seconds, the flashy win was sandwiched between three decision losses.
Gooden returned to the regionals by 2022, where he rallied four wins in five appearances to get back onto the UFC roster just a year later. His latest run saw him earn a “Performance of the Night” bonus for his submission win over Wellington Turman but also featured losses to Carlston Harris and Chidi Njokuani.
The vet’s loss last weekend to Ali was his first fight since his second UFC stint came to a close.
Gooden now turns his focus to a part of his life significantly more important than highlight-reel finishes or win streaks: Being a father.
“To be honest with you guys, I keep everything pretty private,” Gooden said on Instagram, getting ready to reveal what has moved him away from fighting. “Man, me and this amazing woman brought a beautiful baby girl into this world, and my focus is on her now. I’m gonna hang up my gloves for now and can’t wait to let you guys know what I’m gonna do next in life.”
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