A welterweight matchup is in the works for UFC 255.
The promotion is targeting Alan Jouban (16-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) vs. Jared Gooden (17-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at its upcoming pay-per-view event on Nov. 21. The event’s location and venue have yet to be announced.
MMA Junkie confirmed the booking with two people with knowledge of the matchup. The people requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Jouban hasn’t competed since suffering a split decision loss to Dwight Grant in April 2019. Prior to that, he picked up a “Fight of the Night” bonus when he knocked out Ben Saunders at UFC on FOX 28.
Jouban underwent knee surgery this past November, which has kept him sidelined. Despite the loss to Grant, Jouban recently signed a new five-fight deal with the UFC and will kick things off when he takes on newcomer Gooden.
Gooden was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Grant on Aug. 22, but was forced out due to injury. With Titan FC, Island Fights and LFA bouts on his resume, “Nite Train” has stopped his past three opponents.
With the addition, the latest UFC 255 lineup includes:
- Champ Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt – for flyweight title
- Champ Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jennifer Maia – for women’s flyweight title
- Brandon Moreno vs. Alex Perez
- Ariane Lipski vs. Antonina Shevchenko
- Paul Craig vs. Mauricio Rua
- John Allan vs. Roman Dolidze
- Jared Gooden vs. Alan Jouban
