Win or lose, Jared Gooden has a knack for the dramatic.
That once again was evident Saturday at UFC on ESPN 52 when Gooden (20-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) rallied to submit Wellington Turman (18-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) by rear-naked choke at the 1:11 mark of Round 2.
After a first round that leaned in favor of Turman, Round 2 was all Gooden. He initially caught Turman with a punch. Noticeably buckled, Turman tried to stay upright, but Gooden poured on the pressure. Turman was rocked multiple times and once dropped down to his knees.
Eventually, Turman couldn’t withstand the punishment on the feet. Gooden tossed him down, mounted him, and eventually got the tap with a rear-naked choke.
This exchange was wild 😳 #UFCAustin pic.twitter.com/wGYWyRLVud
— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) December 2, 2023
WHAT A COMEBACK BY JARED GOODEN 😳 #UFCAUSTIN pic.twitter.com/9hSQYY8yC9
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 2, 2023
The fight could’ve been a must-win for both guys. Gooden bounced back from a loss to Carlston Harris in which he missed weight. Turman, a Glover Teixeira student, fell into a three-fight skid.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 52 results include:
- Jared Gooden def. Wellington Turman via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:11
- Veronica Hardy def. Jamey-Lyn Horth via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.
