Jared Scoggins aims to fulfill UFC dream: 'I've got to give them something they can sell'
Jared Scoggins knows what it takes to compete at the UFC level. After all, he watched his older brother, Justin, step into the famed octagon nine times between 2013 and 2018. Now, the 25-year-old Jared is ready to follow in his footsteps.
"Ever since I was young, my dream has been to get in the UFC and eventually get the UFC title," Scoggins said. "That's always been the plan. My brother doing that, he kind of laid the path for us.
"We've always known, man. We've been around training with everybody. We always knew we had the ability to be there, but yeah, seeing him go and do this, it's like, 'Yeah, we're going to be there.'"
Scoggins (9-1) can take a big step in that direction on Thursday, when he competes in the main event of CFFC 84, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Robinsonville, Miss. "Psycho" takes on Thomas Vasquez (9-4) with the promotion's vacant bantamweight title on the line.
Scoggins likes his chances against an opponent he's previously seen compete.
"Me and him a while ago fought on a card together over in South Carolina," Scoggins said. "He's a good fighter. He's well-rounded, but I feel like I have the advantage no matter where the fight goes. I feel like that going into any fight, but yeah, he's a solid fighter, but I don't see it going his way."
Scoggins returns to the cage after a nearly two-year layoff, one that saw him nurse a few injuries back to health before then struggling to find matchups due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Scoggins said he's been anything but complacent during his time away, and he's excited to get such a high-profile booking in his return.
"I've been steady working," Scoggins said. "I've been improving my game, and I think everyone will notice a lot of changes in my game in this next fight.
"I'm itching to fight. It's been so long, I would have taken any fight, but this is a big opportunity to get me in front of a lot of people viewing it, so yeah, it's really exciting."
And "exciting" is a word Scoggins knows must be used to describe his performance after the fight, as well. Sure, a victory and a CFFC title would be a huge moment, but Scoggins knows where he ultimately wants to be – not to mention what it will take to get there.
"Man, I feel like I've been ready since I was freaking 20 years old, but I've got to go out there, perform, and show them something that they can't turn away," Scoggins said. "I've got to win, and I've got to win impressively.
"I don't like to go out into a fight too much like, 'Oh, I'm going to win like this and knock him out' because you start looking for one thing and you don't do everything in your arsenal. I'm going to go out there, I'm going to flow, and I feel like I do have to do some cool stuff to get the attention of the UFC. I know I'm on their radar, but I've got to put a stamp on my name."
It's a big opportunity for Scoggins on a big stage, and he's readily aware of the stakes. The chance to fulfill a dream could come along with a victory, but he's seen first-hand what it takes to compete at the sport's highest level.
Building on the foundation laid by his brother's experiences, Scoggins believes it's now his time to shine.
"Me and my brother, we have a lot of similarities, but we do fight different," Scoggins said. "He's more of and aggressor, I would think. I'm more of a counter-striker, but this fight, I plan on mixing it up a little more. I've got to go out there and perform, put on a show. If I want to make a jump to that next level, I've got to give them something they can sell."