Chase Hooper: The Moment of Truth for the Grappling Prodigy

Picture a curly-haired teenager who took a wrong turn on his way to biology class and ended up locked in a cage with a hitman. That’s exactly the vibe Chase Hooper gives off when he steps into the octogone. Except this kid has tentacles for arms and a nasty habit of collecting his opponents' joints. But today, Ben Askren’s "long-lost son" is looking to keep his hot streak alive: after some rough patches in the past, he needs to cement his status as a legit prospect against the dangerous Mitch Ramirez.

🥊 Quick Stats

Name: Chase Hooper
Record: 14-3-1
Signature: Looks like a high school intern, but possesses a jiu-jitsu game that can fold you up like an IKEA flat-pack.

The High-Five Block

Last 5 results:

• ❌ Lance Gibson Jr. — KO/TKO (R1) UFC Fight Night
• ❌ Alexander Hernandez — KO/TKO (R1) UFC 319
• ✅ Jim Miller — Unanimous decision UFC 314
• ✅ Clay Guida — Submission (R1) UFC 310
• ✅ Viacheslav Borshchev — Submission (R2) UFC Fight Night

The Origin Story

Chase Hooper hails from Enumclaw, Washington. A quiet spot where you’re more likely to see pine trees than black belts. No elite wrestling background from an Iowa university, no street fights to pay the bills. Chase fell into grappling early, developing an ultra-atypical style based on flexibility and opportunism. At an age when his buddies were stressing over college majors, he was already turning pro and wrapping himself around the necks of poor souls in the CFFC and Titan FC regional circuits. Signed to the UFC at just 20 after a standout performance on the Contender Series, he’s the prototype of the Gen Z fighter: raised on global MMA without ever going through the traditional boxing school pipeline.

Scalped Uncles and a Rude Awakening

For a while, Hooper’s magic formula hit a wall in the Featherweight division. But his move up to Lightweight felt like a total rebirth. Jordan Leavitt? Strangled before he knew what hit him. The dangerous striker Viacheslav Borshchev? Outclassed before being submitted in the second round. The MMA world had found its ground wizard again. Yet, the memory of his tough years at 145 lbs still lingers.

Steve Garcia first, then Alexander Hernandez, reminded Chase of a fundamental law of physics: if you leave your chin hanging out, gravity is going to do its thing. Those were painful setbacks, including a brutal first-round KO against Garcia, which exposed the glaring holes in his boxing. When you’re rocking a 39.7% striking defense, every exchange on the feet feels like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded chamber.

Useless Knowledge

• The Other Guy's Kid: Because of his curly mop and "non-athlete" look, the UFC dubbed him the spiritual son of Ben Askren. The two leaned into the bit so hard on social media that many casual fans still think they share the same DNA.
• Too Young to Toast: During his winning debut at UFC 245 in 2019, Hooper wasn't even old enough to order a beer to celebrate his win in the Vegas casinos.
• Heel Obsession: His signature move is the Imanari Roll, a flashy forward roll that lets him dive straight into his opponent's legs to hunt for an ankle lock or heel hook.

The MMX Eye

Let’s be real, this fight against Mitch Ramirez is a potential trap for our guy Chase. Ramirez knows exactly which buttons to push to make it hurt. The stat that’s a bit scary? Hooper’s takedown accuracy sits at 32.3%. Translation: he struggles to get his opponents to the mat the traditional way. If he can’t pin Ramirez against the cage or wear him down with his volume (4.5 strikes per minute), he’s going to have to box. And that’s where the danger is highest.

For your picks on La Ligue, play it smart. If Hooper survives the first round without getting clipped, his cardio and elite jiu-jitsu (66.7% finish rate) should allow him to smother Ramirez on the ground as the clock ticks. We’re betting on a statement performance from the Enumclaw kid.

Chase Hooper is fighting for his spot in the elite with the face of a teenager and the ground game of a grandmaster. Think he’ll win his next fight? Come make your picks and challenge your buddies on MMX.

📋 On the same card: Check out all the profiles for UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman