High was born in Kansas City, Missouri and has two brothers and a sister. High began playing football and baseball from a young age, before moving to Blue Springs, Missouri at the age of 10, where he discovered wrestling. By his sophomore year at Blue Springs High School he was on the varsity squad. He was a standout in high school, holding a record of 102–23 over three years, with a 44–7 record in his senior year while setting the school's takedown record and finishing fifth in Missouri's state championships. High was also an all-state selection in 1999. He then continued at the collegiate level for five years. He first spent two years at Meramec Community College in St. Louis where he did very well and also qualified twice for the national championships. High then spent three years at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln as a walk-on player, which has a very prestigious Division I program. High had a rough start to his career for Nebraska, going 4–16 in his first year on campus, but was able to turn his career around and had winning record of 11–10 in his last year of eligibility. High graduated with three varsity letters from Nebraska. In his last semester at Nebraska, High attended a college in Costa Rica where he discovered jiu-jitsu. He earned a degree in history and used to work as an operations manager and full-time EMT for a private ambulance company. He was still working in the early part of his mixed martial arts career.[7]
Mixed martial arts
Early career
High had one amateur fight in 2005, a submission win, before making his professional debut a month later. High won his first seven professional fights before making his debut in Affliction.
Affliction
Jason High made his Affliction debut losing to Jay Hieron at the Day of Reckoning card. High was knocked unconscious by one of Hieron's punches.[8]
DREAM
High later entered DREAM's welterweight grand prix. In the opening round of the tournament on April 5, 2009, he faced Yuya Shirai. High defeated Shirai quickly in the first round by rear naked choke. In the next round, at Dream 10, he upset Brazilian André Galvão by decision. He faced Marius Zaromskis in the finals, but was knocked out in the first round of the match.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
High later signed with the UFC and made his debut against Charlie Brenneman on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi, losing via unanimous decision. After the loss to Brenneman, High was released from the organization.[9]
Post-UFC
High moved back to his hometown of Kansas City and opened a facility in Leawood, Kansas with LC Davis and also began training at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. He rebounded from his two consecutive losses with a unanimous decision victory against Jordan Mein, a young, up and comer from Canada at RITC 40 in Taber, Alberta.[10] He followed that with a first round stoppage of the previously undefeated Keto Allen at Heat XC 6 on the 15th of October.
For his third Strikeforce fight, High fought Nate Moore in July 2012 on the preliminary card of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy. He won the fight via guillotine choke submission at just 26 seconds into the first round.
Return to the UFC
On January 8, 2013, High announced he signed a contract with the UFC.[13]
High was expected to face Ildemar Alcantara on June 8, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 10.[14] However, High was pulled from the bout with Alcantara in late April in favor of a bout on the same card against Erick Silva, after Silva's original opponent, John Hathaway was pulled from the event.[15] He lost the fight via triangle armbar submission.
High faced James Head on August 28, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 27.[16] He won the bout via first round guillotine choke submission.
High faced Anthony Lapsley on November 16, 2013, at UFC 167.[17] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
On an appearance with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour on November 18, 2013, High indicated an interest in dropping down to the Lightweight division. He is hoping to have his next fight (and Lightweight debut) sometime in early first quarter 2014.
High was expected to face Adlan Amagov on January 15, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 35,[18] However, Amagov pulled out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Baneil Dariush.[19] In turn, High pulled out of the bout citing appendicitis and was replaced by returning veteran Charlie Brenneman.[20]
High faced Rafael dos Anjos in a Lightweight bout on June 7, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 42.[21] He lost the fight via TKO in round two. High protested the stoppage, believing it to be too early, and proceeded to shove the referee. High was released from his UFC contract as a result.[22]
World Series of Fighting
On August 18, 2015, it was announced that High had signed with the World Series of Fighting.[23] He made his promotional debut again fellow Strikeforce and UFC veteran Estevan Payan on November 20, 2015, at WSOF 25.[24] High won the fight via knockout in the second round.[25]
On March 23, 2016, it was announced that High will fight in the co-main event at WSOF 31 on June 17, 2016, against Bellator and UFC vet Mike Ricci.[26] He won via technical knockout in the second round.
High faced João Zeferino at WSOF 33 on October 7, 2016.[27] He lost via technical knockout in the third round.
Professional Fighters League
High next faced Caros Fodor on June 30, 2017, at Professional Fighters League 36: Fitch vs. Foster. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
High faced Efrain Escudero in a lightweight tournament bout at PFL 2 in Chicago on June 21, 2018.[28] He lost the fight via technical submission in the third round. The ending was controversial as the referee stopped the bout when High quickly moved his hand under Escudero's body, resulting in the referee believing it was a tap. However, upon review of replays, it was clear High had not tapped.[29]
In his second fight in the tournament, High faced Natan Schulte on August 2, 2018, at PFL 5. He lost the fight via technical submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[30]
High was then scheduled to face Johnny Case at PFL 7 on August 30, 2018, for the PFL playoff eliminator bout. However, High could not make weight and Case advanced to playoffs via walkover win.[31]
Regional circuit
After the season 2018 of PFL, High was scheduled to face Josh Weston at FAC 2 on February 22, 2020. However, High withdrew due to unknown reason and the bout was rebooked to October 9, 2020. High won the bout via second-round knockout, claiming the inaugural FAC Welterweight Championship.[32]
High made his first title defense against Jake Lindsey at FAC 5 on December 11, 2020.[33] He won the fight via technical knockout in the fifth round.[34]
