Over the years, Jouban has worked as a model, and has more recently made a smooth transition to a broadcast career, working the desk at multiple UFC events. At the 14th Annual World MMA Awards, he was on hand to present the Ring Card Girl of the Year category — which, if the genders were swapped out, he might have been up for himself.

Jouban’s modelling career began while he was still fighting, something that dogged him a little early. Like female fighters sometimes get now, Jouban was thought of as too handsome to fight.

“For me personally in the beginning of my career, that was absolutely a thing. Because every time I would do my walkout, the story when I’m walking out to the arena was ‘this guy doubles as a model, this this and this,'” Jouban recalled, speaking to Cageside Press. “And I’m like ‘man have you looked at my highlight reel? I’ve been knocking everybody out!’ And so that was something in the beginning where I go ‘man, shut this up.'”

Things changed when he made it to the big show, where added exposure paid off in his second career. “And then I get to the UFC, and I embrace it, and I end up getting work. My agency saw me on TV fighting, they booked me, and I ended up doing a Versace job and all this. A bunch of things came from it. I learned I just have to embrace it.”

As it happens, his agency signed another top UFC star, Luke Rockhold. But Jouban is never far from fighting, and like everyone else, there are bouts he’s excited for heading into 2023. “Obviously the fight this weekend that should have happened, the rematch,” suggested Jouban, alluding to the rematch between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira, should the Czech get back from injury in time.

“Dustin Poirier, the hometown guy, the Lafayette guy,” was another name Jouban is excited for. “He’s a guy that as of lately, it’s been in the news— obviously every fighter says they want to chase the belt,” noted Jouban. But, he added, when they get in fights so big that they don’t even need to be belt chasing to sell PPVs or put butts in seats, like Poirier and Michael Chander — “Chandler’s another guy that’s getting to that status” — that’s all the more reason to look forward to them fighting.

The recently victorious “Wonderboy,” fresh off a win over Kevin Holland, is another name Jouban is excited for. Especially in fan-friendly striking match-ups.

“I think that’s something we’re seeing kind of evolve as of late. Fans want to see great fights, they want to see bangers, they want to see fights that you know are going to be non-stop action. And I think we probably have a couple of those coming up, like you said, next year.”

Watch our full interview with Alan Jouban above.

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Jouban (17-7), a member of the UFC roster since 2014, has become a feature on UFC broadcasts in recent years, doing double duty as an analyst and active fighter. He last competed in November 2020, where he earned a unanimous decision victory against Jared Gooden.

The 38-year old Louisiana native announced the news on social media.

I’d like to officially announce my retirement from MMA. Fighting and the [UFC] have given me everything I have today! I would not change a single thing from my journey because I got to live my dream and not know what was next.

My coaches, my teammates, those of you that were apart of this, I appreciate you so much! Thank you to my supporters and even my opponents along the way. Injuries, age and life have shown me that it’s time. If I can’t compete to my fullest, then I won’t.

So I’ll focus my time now on broadcasting where I can still share my passion and knowledge for the sport with with everyone at home. Thank you to everyone for all the love over the years. I look forward to becoming a staple in the sport from this end now as well.

Jouban finishes his UFC tenure with an overall record of 8-5 inside the octagon. During that span, he picked up four Fight of the Night bonuses. Outside of the UFC, Jouban held gold in Fight Club OC, and competed for the RFA welterweight championship.

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Jared Gooden made his Octagon debut at UFC 255 on Saturday — and “Nite Train” pulled a rather tough assignment for a first UFC outing, going up against Alan Jouban. A longtime welterweight fighter for promotions like NFC and Titan FC, Gooden had piled up over 20 fights prior to joining the big show.

Jouban, meanwhile, had spent six years in the UFC but was looking to right the ship after winning just one of his last four fights.

Gooden started off fast and put the pressure on the more established fighter in Jouban. Gooden burst in and ate a hard right hand, then an elbow on the break from Jouban. Jouban landed a kick to the body but Gooden continued to swing for the bleachers. Gooden landed a hard straight right hand and Gooden looked to land a flurry but Jouban seemed calm. Jouban landed a hard right hand that caused Gooden to shell up and seemed to get his respect. Jouban began slamming his left leg into the body of Gooden, his kicks sounded like gunshots that echoed around the Apex. Jouban seemed to get into a good rhythm after a rough start, leading into round two.

Gooden came out aggressive again, and Jouban was forced to utilize some head movement early. Gooden landed a hard left hand followed by a right hook that stunned Jouban for a moment, but Gooden didn’t rush for the finish. Instead, it was Jouban that would nearly get the finish, as Jouban landed a hard left hand that hurt Gooden badly, and Jouban swarmed for the finish. Gooden seemed to recover but was hurt badly again by Jouban after eating a hard right hand, but Jouban was clearly exhausted. Gooden was able to end the round getting Jouban’s back, and ended the insane round throwing a combination at Jouban.

Putting in the WORK! @AlanJouban is rallying and has Gooden retreating 😳 #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/AhwBrIB9Jw

— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020

Jouban opened up quickly and landed multiple hard kicks to the body and legs of Gooden. Gooden wasn’t phased, however, and landed a hard right hand that stunned Jouban for a moment. The action was paused for a moment after a knee to the groin of Jouban. Jouban came out of the break aggressive and swarming Gooden, Jouban began pumping his jab out at the tiring Gooden and looking to chain combinations together. Gooden shot in for a takedown in the final minute, but Jouban got a deep guillotine attempt in. Jouban got the choke in super deep, but Gooden was saved by the bell, as it appeared that he was mere moments away from tapping.

WOW! SIMPLY WOW!

🐍 @AlanJouban squeezed with all his might but couldn't get the tap to close. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/R12YUlKGZ1

— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020

Alan Jouban def. Jared Gooden by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)

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Jared “Nite Train” Gooden
Welterweight
26-years-old
Atlanta, Georgia, US
X3 Sports
17-4
7 KO/TKOs
6 Submissions

How will Gooden fare in the UFC:

Gooden is an action fighter with 13 finishes in his 17 wins. On the feet, Gooden at times looks sharp and composed. On the other hand, sometimes Gooden can throw a bit too wild and when his back is against the cage, he is there to be hit.

Having competed for promotions like Titan FC, Gooden has a well-arranged attack on the feet. He throws a good lead knee, has a good Thai clinch, excellent leg kicks, and mixes in body shots into small combinations. His ability to take a shot is a question, as defensively he holds his chin right out there and his hands are low at times, or too wide. He’s only been finished by strikes once, but it was a bad look getting sparked right off the bat — and that loss wasn’t too long ago.

While Gooden has tight hands, he tends to rush forward blindly. Three of his four losses are the result of opponents just out-wrestling him. To be fair, he’s not so easy to take down as he is capable of stuffing the initial, but he then fails to regroup and gets chain-wrestled. Off his back Gooden does move well, always moving his hips and putting his feet on the hips, forcing a separation. His guard is pretty easy to pass but he is yet to be finished by submission.

The wrestling of Gooden is solid. Gooden times his level drops well and is good at getting those big double leg takedowns. On top Gooden stays active with ground and pound (mainly elbows), and his transitions to submissions are done nicely. Taking the back and finishing with the rear-naked choke is something he does especially well. His cardio has looked good at times, but it’s when he’s forced to work at a high pace (i.e. defending takedowns) that he tires. However, Gooden remains dangerous in the later rounds as he has ten second/third round finishes — but you can visibly see his posture/speed does decline. Overall it’s a fun signing and I think Gooden will do just fine in the UFC, similar to how Niko Price is doing in the promotion.

• Striking: B-
• Kickboxing: B-
• Clinch: B-
• Wrestling: B-
• Grappling: B-
• Striking Defense: C+
• Takedown Defense: C+
• Cardio: C-
• Biggest Strength: Well-rounded
• Biggest Weakness: Takedown defense

How he matches up with Jouban:

Alan Jouban is making his return to the octagon after a layoff of over a year. Gooden has all the tools to just outwork Jouban. With that said the fact that Gooden holds his chin out there, he can be knocked out. There isn’t anything out there to prove that Gooden can just be taken out with one strike as his knockout loss came from a barrage of strikes. Still, if the fight stays standing Jouban is the more talented technical fighter. If he pulls the trigger I’m confident he will beat Gooden up by mixing it up to the body and head.

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Alan Jouban is a well-rounded fighter who’s carved out a solid career both in the UFC and as a model. Jouban, a 10th Planet Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, started out his run in the Octagon at 6-2 with wins over Mike Perry and Belal Muhammad. “Brahma” then lost a pair of fights to Gunnar Nelson and Niko Price before rebounding by knocking out Ben Saunders.

Dwight Grant is a 9-2 New Yorker who made his way to the UFC through Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Grant won by second-round KO on the Contender Series, and is 1-1 since joining the promotion. After dropping a split decision to Zak Ottow, the one-time Bellator fighter knocked out Carlo Pedersoli Jr. at the buzzer of the first round in February.

Jouban and Grant circled on the outside to start their welterweight battle at UFC 236. Jouban than attempted a takedown; Grant just fanned on a head kick off the break. Grant was putting everything he had into his punches, creating a rather dicey situation early for Jouban. Perhaps because of this, he sat back a little after a couple of close calls, looking for his spot. He would land a takedown early on, but it was short-lived. Jouban then went to the body with a kick, and ate a leg kick from Grant in return. He’d eat a big punch moments later, but walked through it. More feeling out, and another heavy swing from Grant would follow. Jouban continued to look for an opening, wary of a counter.

The second had Grant connecting with a combination early, a sequence of wild punches that put Jouban into retreat mode. The pair traded leg kicks, and while Jouban continued to walk forward, he had yet to figure out the puzzle that was Dwight Grant. This was the case the whole round. Jouban was being frustrated when it came to getting inside on Grant, but at the same time, he was controlling the action and pushing the pace.

The third and final round saw another flurry early. Jouban then walked Grant down, looking to trap him in the corner, but Grant continued to circle free. Near the midway Mark, Grant threw a high kick that hit Jouban’s arm. Jouban’s own kicks were making a difference in the bout, but a low blow at the midway mark caught Grant squarely below the belt, forcing a break in the action. When they were back underway, the pair continued to trade sporadically, with Jouban mixing in a spinning back kick that came up short. Going to the buzzer, the fight would finish with Jouban on top after a scramble got things to the ground. The result? A bizarre split decision, with the dissenting judge awarding Jouban a 30-27.

After the scores were read, neither fighter, frankly, looked pleased.

Dwight Grant def. Alan Jouban by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

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For the second week in a row, the UFC put on an underrated card that performed above expectations when all was said and done. What UFC Orlando (UFC on FOX 28) lacked in star power it made up for in action, with seven finishes on the card, and a number of exciting bouts brimming with fireworks.

Among those were Tecia Torres vs. Jessiaca Andrade, who put on a thrilling war in the evening’s co-main event. ‘The Tiny Tornado’ Torres found success, and a home for her right hand, early in the fight. However, as the affair wore on the powerful Andrade pulled further and further ahead, scooping Torres up and slamming her down repeatedly. In the end, Andrade picked up a unanimous decision. It was not enough, however, to convince the UFC to give them Fight of the Night, however. That honor instead went to Alan Jouban vs. Ben Saunders. That stand-up war ended roughly mid-way through the fight when Jouban sent Saunders crashing to the canvas. It was a potential Performance of the Night bonus winner, but the UFC ultimately decided the pair put on enough of a show to earn Fight of the Night.

In all honesty, any of Torres vs. Andrade, Griffin vs. Perry, and Jouban vs. Saunders could have got the nod.

Performance of the Night bonuses were handed out to Jeremy Stephens, for his second round finish of Josh Emmett, and Ilir Latifi, who choked out Ovince St. Preux via guillotine. The Stephens bonus will likely raise some eyebrows, as fans, pundits, and even fellow fighters debated some apparently illegal strikes Stephens connected with leading up to the finish. That said, the ref allowed the action to continue, and Stephens ultimately got the win.

All four UFC Orlando bonus winners will receive $50,000 for their efforts.

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Kicking off the televised portion of Saturday’s UFC on FOX 28 was a welterweight scrap between the popular Ben ‘Killa B’ Saunders and Alan Jouban. Saunders was 5-2 in his latest UFC stint heading into UFC Orlando. Alan Jouban, meanwhile, had lost two straight, and was looking to turn things around.

Once the action was underway, Jouban went to work hacking at the legs of Saunders. He used his speed and mobility to force Saunders into chasing him; Saunders was able to land a solid right hand, but he was soon on the outside looking in once. Jouban landed with a combination, then circled out of harm’s way. He was caught shortly after with a combo from ‘Killa B’ — a sequence that appeared to hurt Jouban. Saunders continued to come forward, but he had to be wary of Jouban’s kicks. Saunders landed another right; Jouban added a trio of kicks, and got the better of the exchange when the pair clinched. An inside leg kick then dropped Saunders to his knees briefly; he was going to need to check those, or risk losing his mobility as the fight wore on. Saunders then landed a low blow that paused the action. When the round came to a close, the story was the inside leg kicks of Alan Jouban.

Round two saw Ben Saunders come out with a bleeding leg from the kicks of Jouban. Saunders went with a high kick early; Jouban answered back. In a clinch, Jouban connected with a big elbow, and then began lighting Saunders up with punch after punch. Saunders battled back, throwing knees and displaying a chin apparently cast in iron. Things were devolving into a brawl; Saunders then tripped due to his injured leg. Back at close range, Jouban was able to connect with elbow after elbow, and Saunders, dazed, was finally put to sleep with a straight left that sent him crashing to the canvas.

Alan Jouban def. Ben Saunders by knockout, Round 2, 2:38

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Alan Jouban recently lost in the biggest fight of his career against Gunnar Nelson via second round submission after a knockdown. Jouban is one of the more exciting welterweights on the roster with three Fight of the Night performances and three knockouts. Jouban looks to bounce back at UFC Mexico City.

Niko Price has been very impressive since joining the UFC. Price submitted former top prospect Brandon Thatch then knocking out Alex Morono. Unfortunately the second win was overturned due to a positive marijuana test but a knockout is a knockout in the eyes of the fans.

Jouban opened with a right hand and Price answered with a counter left, followed by another straight. Jouban landed a leg kick, then Price answered with a heavy one of his own. Price chained his kick together with a pair of punches and a head kick that was blocked.

Jouban threw a leg kick that was caught and countered cleanly by a right straight that wobbled Jouban. Price closed in and landed a head kick that knocked down Jouban. Price pounced for the finish and got it quickly. The stoppage was well-timed though, as Jouban clearly needed the fence to help him stand up.

Niko Price might end up in the rankings following his third stoppage victory in the UFC over the very respected Alan Jouban. Price stands undefeated at 10-0 (one no contest) with nine stoppages but will need a win over a ranked opponent to truly secure a spot in the top 15.

Jouban now has lost two in a row and should probably take a bit of a break from being the very active fighter he is. Jouban has fought 10 times since joining the UFC three years ago.

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The Flint, Michigan, native has also come to be known for his actions on weigh in day. In his UFC debut, Perry faked a handshake with his opponent Hyun Gyu Lim, only to pull his hand back and shout at Lim “You thought you had a friend.”

Whether he’s getting inside his adversaries’ head a day before the fight, or knocking his opponents out cold, one thing is for sure, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry is a serious threat to anyone in the welterweight division.

“PMP Baby”

Cageside Press recently caught up with the welterweight rising star just after he purchased his new home. In between bites of his Kentucky Fried Chicken, Perry was more than happy to share some of his thoughts on his upcoming bout with Thiago Alves, Jon Jones, and more.

As I quickly found out, don’t mess up the order in which you say Perry’s full name including nickname, “It’s ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, PMP baby,” Perry quickly corrected me. My bad, I will never introduce him as Mike ‘Platinum’ Perry ever again.

Perry would let me know, “It’s all good though.”

The power that ‘Platinum’ has displayed in the octagon is nothing short of remarkable, I was curious if he was born with that explosiveness. “Yea, definitely that’s all natural,” Perry said.

“I want a 20 second knock out”

Alves is no slouch, having challenged for a UFC title himself in years past. On paper, this fight screams violent ending, “I’m gonna come out and put it on him [Alves] right away” Perry assured me.

“I want a twenty second knock out, I know ya’ll gonna be upset but I got to do what I got to do. I’m gonna finish it like the Conor and Aldo fight.”

Perry is a fighter that likes to stay busy, he doesn’t care for long layoffs in-between fights, “I’ve only fought one time this year, they’re [UFC] holding me back,” he said jokingly.

The only blemish on Perry’s record is to Alan Jouban from UFC FOX 22 back in December of last year. Most competitors obsess about getting even with someone who has bested them, but not Perry.

“I came back after that fight in tremendous fashion, he got TKO’ed, he has to earn it. He’s [Jouban] about to fight Niko Price, I think Niko is going to take him down and put his weight on him.”

“Robbie Lawler, that’s a good fight for me”

As to who ‘Platinum’ would like to face next, “I want to fight the best, I’m here to fight the winners,” Perry stated. “I know no one wants to go rounds with me, I can end the fight at any given time, it’s just a matter if I get my hands on you.”

I must admit, Perry knows how to pick the winners of fights. He successfully said Jon Jones, Tyron Woodley, and Robbie Lawler would all win at UFC 214. He even added Woodley would win easily.

When Lawler’s name got brought up, Perry let it be known, “Robbie Lawler, that would be a good fight for me.” I couldn’t agree more.

The Michigan man wanted to make one final thing crystal clear, “I’m sitting here thinking about what kind of violent things I’m going to do to Alves to better my life.”

That’s a scary thought indeed.

“Platinum’ Mike Perry takes on Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 116 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 16.

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Jouban (15–5) commented on the injury via his official Instagram, saying “Life and the fight game… both full of highs and lows. Today, not such a good day” and adding that he’d “take it in stride.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVAsG9mDDx2/

The thirty-five year old Louisiana native was last seen in March at UFC Fight Night 107, losing via submission to Gunnar Nelson. Prior to that, he’d run up a streak of three straight victories, capped off by a unanimous decision win in December against Mike Perry.

Camozzi (7-3) is coming off his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 102 in December, where he was TKO’d in Randy Brown. The UFC has yet to comment on a replacement opponent.

UFC 213 takes place July 8 at the T-Mobila Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Amanda Nunes meets Valentina Shevchenko in the main event.

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