Jared Gooden knows he put himself in position to take on a big challenge at UFC on ESPN 28 , but he said he’s up for it. After losing his first two UFC appearances, Gooden (17-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC) stepped up into a risky position on Saturday when he jumped in as a replacement opponent against Niklas Stolze (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC). The welterweight bout is part of the ESPN-televised main card from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Stolze’s original opponent fell out on fight week, and with just four days’ notice, Gooden offered his services. He said he was training hard when the opportunity came, and feels more prepared than the time would indicate.