Jared Hess is a Bellator FC middleweight prospect. A two-time competitor in the promotion’s middleweight tournament, Hess fell short by losing to Hector Lombard in the Season One finals and by injury in his Season Two run (against eventual winner) Alexander Shlemenko. A standout football player and wrestler in high school, Hess enters the sport as a noted athlete with good credentials.

Hess comes to MMA after a quality amateur wrestling career. While attending Western Heights High School, Hess won an Oklahoma State High School Wrestling Championship and earned a scholarship to the University of Central Oklahoma. There, Hess would wrestle for four season earning NCAA Division II All-American honours in his senior season. As a fighter, Hess’ wrestling background has played a pivotal role in shaping his game. Hess is a tenacious wrestler who pushes hard for his takedowns, showing a powerful double leg and a nice single. On the mat Hess is a grinding top game grappler who displays excellent ground control, staying tight to his opponents at all times. He will attempt to secure better position from the top, controlling his opponents’ weight and distribution superbly from those positions. A persistent ground and pound fighter, Hess works his elbows and knees from side control while effectively alternating between the head and body with his punching. His technical skills have continued to develop, and Hess has shown the ability to administer powerful submissions (rear naked, guillotine). Hess has also displayed the technical knowledge to free himself from submissions and shown a defensively conscious guard game, although his top game is certainly the most potent aspect of is grappling arsenal.

Standing, Hess plays loose with his hands not hesitating to strike with his opponent. Technically, Hess still looks like a wrestler when the fight is kept standing and his overall standup will require work. He appears awkward at times throwing loopy hooks and overhand rights, and his footwork and technical skills will need to be improved. As a striker Hess has encountered difficulty when he’s not able to achieve the takedown, a prime example being his bout with Hector Lombard where he was thoroughly outclassed on the feet. What isn’t debatable is Hess’ toughness and heart. He brings his hardnosed wrestler mentality to the cage with him and never quits in a bout. Even after severely dislocating his knee fighting against Alexander Shlemenko, Hess attempted to continue fighting (despite the fact he couldn’t stand), and the stoppage only came at the referee’s insistence.