The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.
Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, Dana White’s Contender Series signees, or the increasingly rare straight-up additions. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.
“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.
Check out the March 2023 list below.
Jared Gooden
Record when signed: 22-8
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 29
Return: March 11 loss vs. Carlston Harris (18-5 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 221 via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Once a fighter parts ways with the UFC, most times a reunion with the promotion never occurs. Jared Gooden is one of the exceptions to that rule. Released after a 1-3 stint in the UFC from 2020-2021, Gooden went 4-1 on the regional scene. When Abubakar Nurmagomedov withdrew from UFC Fight Night 221, the promotion brought back Gooden to fight Carlston Harris. Gooden lost by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Jose Henrique
Record when signed: 6-1
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 20
Debut: TBA
At just 20, Jose Henrique already has built a strong resume. Under the tutelage of Nova Uniao boss Andre Pederneiras, Henrique has an 80 percent finishing rate with wins in LFA and Shooto Brasil, among other promotions. His only loss came this past August when he was knocked out by Yusaku Kinoshita on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Jamey-Lyn Horth
Record when signed: 5-0
Signing type: Straight up
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 33
Debut: April 29 vs. Hailey Cowan (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 223 in Las Vegas
LFA women’s flyweight champion Jamey-Lyn Horth struggled to find opponents in recent months while she teetered on the edge of a UFC call-up. When Tamires Vidal withdrew from UFC on FOX 43, the UFC looked to rebook her opponent, Hailey Cowan, as soon as possible. With Horth on the tip of the UFC matchmakers’ tongues, they finally gave her the call. Horth enters her UFC debut regarded as the top pound-for-pound female fighter on the Canadian regional scene. She has a 100 percent finishing rate with three TKOs and one submission.
Gabriel Santos
Record when signed: 10-0
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 26
Debut: March 18 loss to Lerone Murphy (12-0-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC) at UFC 286 via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
LFA featherweight champion Gabriel Santos joined the UFC for a short-notice assignment against a tough test in Lerone Murphy, and did pretty well by most viewers’ accounts. Santos went toe-to-toe with a very tough, undefeated fighter in enemy territory at UFC 286 and he nearly squeaked out a win. Despite the loss, the future still could be bright for Santos, who has a 70 percent finishing rate in victories.
