Jared Vanderaa (born May 12, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Vanderaa was born in Washington but moved around a lot with his mother in pursuit of opportunities, eventually settling in California.
Vanderaa started training MMA in February 2010, right after wrestling season, and had his amateur first fight in October 2010. He started wrestling at 15, a sophomore in high school and then dislocated his shoulder right at the end of the season. He got it fixed and joined an MMA gym immediately after, beginning his MMA journey.
He attended California Baptist University but dropped out after a couple of days.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Vanderaa competed as an amateur from 2012 to 2015, in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions. He compiled a record of 5–4.
In his professional debut, he submitted John Rizzo via rear-naked choke in the first round. Vanderaa defeated his next four foes all by stoppages. Vanderaa faced Richard Odoms at for the LFA Heavyweight Championship on June 30, 2017. He lost the bout via kimura in the 5th round.
After tapping out Idrees Wasi in first round at Global Knockout 10, he made his Extreme Fighting Championship debut in South Africa at EFC 66, losing the split decision to Andrew van Zyl for the EFC Heavyweight Championship.
After losing a short notice bout via unanimous decision to Vernon Lewis at ,
At Dana White's Contender Series 34, Vanderaa defeated Harry Hunsucker via TKO in the first round, securing him a contract from the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Vanderaa was scheduled to face
Serghei Spivac on December 12, 2020, at UFC 256
However, Vanderaa tested positive for COVID-19 during fight week and had to withdraw.
The pair eventually met on February 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 185.
Vanderaa lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Vanderaa faced Justin Tafa on May 22, 2021, at .
Vanderaa faced Alexander Romanov on October 9, 2021, at .
Vanderaa was scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov, replacing Philipe Lins on December 4, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 31.
Vanderaa faced Andrei Arlovski on February 12, 2022, at UFC 271.
Vanderaa faced Aleksei Oleinik, replacing Ilir Latifi, on April 9, 2022, at UFC 273.
Vanderaa faced Chase Sherman on July 9, 2022, at .
As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Vanderaa faced Waldo Cortes-Acosta on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213.
After five straight losses, Vanderaa was released by the UFC in December 2022.
Post-UFC career
As the first bout of his post-UFC tenure Vanderaa faced Nick Costello at Gladiator Challenge – Proving Ground on March 4, 2023. He won the bout via first-minute submission.
He then made his light heavyweight debut against Chuck Campbell at Lights Out Fighting 10 on August 26, 2023, losing via third-round knockout.
Vanderaa next faced the undefeated Kent Mafileo at Fierce FC 30 on February 10, 2024. He would win the bout via second round submission.
Vanderaa would then face Eric Iman at Fierce FC 32 on May 31, 2024. He would win the bout via first round submission.
Vanderaa would next face Alexey Kiser at LXF 17 on June 15, 2024. He would win the fight via first round technical knockout extending his win streak to three.
Personal life
Vanderaa and his fiancée Lauren have two daughters, born in 2017 and 2021.
Vanderaa and his fiancée own the Team Quest gym in Hemet, which is the successor of PrimeTime MMA where Jared began his career.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
-
Fierce Fighting Championship
-
FFC Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
-
Ultimate Fighting Championship
-
Fight of the Night (One time)
-
SMASH Global
-
SG Heavyweight Championship (One time)
-
Extreme Fighting Championship
-
EFC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
-
One successful title defence
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Win
|align=center|18–11
|Jordan Currie
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Fierce FC 39
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:13
|Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|17–11
|Demoreo Dennis
|Decision (unanimous)
|Z Promotions: Fight Night 20
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|16–11
|Alexey Kiser
|TKO (punches)
|LXF 17
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:27
|Pauma Valley, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|15–11
|Eric Iman
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Fierce FC 32
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:39
|West Valley City, Utah, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–11
|Kent Mafileo
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|Fierce FC 30
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|3:46
|West Valley City, Utah, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|13–11
|Chuck Campbell
|KO (punch)
|LXF 10
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|4:34
|Pauma Valley, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–10
|Nick Costello
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Gladiator Challenge: Proving Ground
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:46
|Valley Center, California, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|12–10
|Waldo Cortes-Acosta
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|12–9
|
Chase Sherman
|TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:10
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|12–8
|
Aleksei Oleinik
|Submission (scarf hold)
|UFC 273
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:39
|Jacksonville, Florida, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|12–7
|
Andrei Arlovski
|Decision (split)
|UFC 271
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Houston, Texas, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|12–6
|Alexander Romanov
|TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:43
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–5
|
Justin Tafa
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|11–5
|
Serghei Spivac
|TKO (punches)
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:32
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–4
|Harry Hunsucker
|TKO (punches)
|Dana White's Contender Series 34
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:34
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10–4
|Tony Lopez
|Decision (unanimous)
|SMASH Global 9
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Hollywood, California, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|9–4
|Renan Ferreira
|Submission (triangle choke)
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:37
|Riverside, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9–3
|Ricky Misholas
|TKO (punches)
|EFC 77
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:49
|
Pretoria, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–3
|
Ruan Potts
|TKO (punches)
|EFC 76
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:24
|
Pretoria, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–3
|Elvis Moyo
|TKO (punches)
|EFC 73
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:00
|Sun City, South Africa
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6–3
|Vernon Lewis
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Houston, Texas, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6–2
|Andrew van Zyl
|Decision (split)
|EFC 66
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|
Pretoria, South Africa
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6–1
|Idrees Wasi
|Submission (straight ankle lock)
|GKO 10
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:35
|Jackson, California, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|5–1
|Richard Odoms
|Submission (kimura)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|2:45
|Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–0
|Sean Johnson
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|SMASH Global 4
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:28
|Los Angeles, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–0
|Mychal Clark
|TKO (punches)
|BAMMA Badbeat 20
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:20
|Commerce, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–0
|Joe Hernandez
|KO (punch)
|SMASH Global 3
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:13
|Los Angeles, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–0
|Daylin Murray
|TKO (punches)
|The Main Event 2
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:11
|San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–0
|John Rizzo
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|KOTC: Sanctioned
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:29
|San Jacinto, California, United States
|
See also
-
List of male mixed martial artists
External links
