Chase Hooper

Angelo picks Chase Hooper but is not confident, noting that Hooper relies on experience and BJJ, and that he hasn't beaten anyone under 40 in years. He thinks Lance Gibson could win if he wrestles and stays safe. Angelo criticizes the odds, saying Hooper should not be a 3-to-1 favorite.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper to win by second-round submission. He acknowledges Hooper's striking deficiencies and recent knockout losses, but believes Hooper's ground game is elite. He notes Hooper has improved his wrestling, taking down Jim Miller eight times and Clay Guida three times. He thinks once Hooper gets the fight to the ground, he will dominate with ground and pound and submissions.

Cody believes Hooper's grappling and improving striking will be too much for Gibson, who he views as a Bellator-level fighter. He expects Hooper to win via submission or decision.

Connor picks Hooper as well, agreeing that Hooper's grappling is dynamite and he is a violent grappler. He thinks Gibson's mentality is not suited for fighting and that Hooper will take advantage.

Daniel believes Hooper's experience and grappling will be too much for Gibson, who he views as not UFC caliber. He expects Hooper to submit Gibson, noting Gibson lacks knockout power to threaten Hooper.

The host believes Hooper is very likely to win due to his improved wrestling and ground game, but the odds (-318) are too steep to bet. Gibson is a volume striker without knockout power, so Hooper should eventually get a takedown and finish. However, there is not enough known about Gibson to bet the underdog, making this an easy pass.

The host likes Hooper's submission game but is wary of the minus 240 line, as he thinks Hooper may struggle to get the fight to the ground against Gibson's athleticism. He suggests Hooper needs to be reckless with striking to create openings for grappling. He predicts Hooper will eventually find a submission but acknowledges the risk.

Paul agrees, noting Hooper's length and grappling advantage. He's not impressed by Gibson's UFC debut and expects Hooper to handle him.

The MMA Guru picks Chase Hooper, citing his recent grappling improvements and wins over Jim Miller and Jordan Leavitt. He believes Hooper's grappling will be too much for Lance Gibson Jr., who he considers a name merchant. He expects Hooper to survive early danger and eventually submit or outgrapple Gibson for a decision.

Angelo notes Hooper has filled out physically, improved his takedowns, and is undefeated at 155. He thinks Hernandez is inconsistent and undersized, and that Hooper's height and BJJ advantage could be key. However, he acknowledges Hernandez's takedown defense and toughness, making this a close fight. He slightly leans Hooper but is not confident.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper to win by second-round TKO. He notes Hernandez struggles with high pace and has been broken in many fights. Hooper is massive, pushes a pace, and will drain Hernandez's gas tank. He thinks Hooper will chain takedowns and submission attempts, finishing Hernandez in the second or third round. He acknowledges Hernandez could hurt Hooper early, but if Hooper gets rolling, it's a bad matchup for Hernandez.

The host notes Hooper's recent improvements and chaotic striking approach. He expects Hooper to wear down Hernandez and eventually find a submission, likely in the second or third round.

Angelo picks Chase Hooper, arguing that Clay Guida is 42 years old and past his prime, while Hooper's grappling and evolving striking will be too much. He mentions Hooper already submitted Guida in their first fight with a calf slicer. Angelo dismisses the idea that Hooper can't win a kickboxing match, stating Guida is too old and worn down. He is confident Hooper will win again.

Cody picks Hooper, citing his youth, jiu-jitsu, and improvement. He notes Guida's age and submission losses. He expects Hooper to win inside the distance, likely by submission.

Connor is very confident in Hooper, stating that Guida can no longer wrestle or strike effectively. He notes that Hooper is much larger with long arms, and that if Guida tries to wrestle, Hooper will submit him. Connor points out that Guida's style has been ineffective for years and that Hooper's modern technique will be too much.

Daniel believes Hooper has matured and can beat Guida anywhere. He references their previous grappling match where Hooper submitted Guida. He expects Hooper to finish Guida, possibly by submission.

Hooper should absolutely smash Clay Guida, who is notorious for coming up short against submission specialists early, just as Charles Oliveira and Jim Miller were able to do. I expect Hooper to submit Guida within the first five minutes.

Paul picks Hooper, emphasizing his grappling and physical advantages. He notes Guida's age and lack of offense. He expects Hooper to submit Guida, but suggests inside the distance is safer.

The MMA Guru picks Chase Hooper, noting Guida's age (42) and tendency to make grappling mistakes that lead to submissions. He thinks Hooper's reach, youth, and improved striking will allow him to dominate. He sees Hooper latching up a guillotine or getting dominant position. He does not see Guida having the power to knock Hooper out.

Angelo picks Viacheslav Borshchev because of his striking advantage and Chase Hooper's poor takedown offense (22% accuracy). He notes Borshchev has a professional kickboxing background and can defend takedowns well enough. He acknowledges Hooper's dangerous BJJ but believes Borshchev can keep the fight standing and land punishment.

Big Brady picks Slava Borshchev to win by first-round knockout, but admits it's a tough call and he could look stupid. He notes that on the feet, Borshchev has a huge advantage, as Hooper has been knocked down repeatedly by strikers like Steve Garcia. However, if Hooper gets the fight to the ground, he will dominate. Borshchev has poor takedown defense (36%), but Hooper's wrestling may not be as good as previous opponents. He hopes Borshchev stuffs takedowns and makes it look easy.

Cody picks Hooper as a confident underdog, noting that Borshchev has terrible takedown defense (35% in UFC) and has been taken down 24 times in 6 fights. Hooper, despite his own takedown accuracy issues, should be able to take Borshchev down and dominate on the ground with his elite BJJ. Cody believes Hooper's cardio and tenacity will allow him to survive early striking exchanges and find takedowns later. He already bet Hooper at plus 140.

Daniel Vreeland picks Chase Hooper, noting that Borshchev has poor takedown defense, especially when tired. He believes Hooper can weather the early storm and drag Borshchev to the ground for a ground-and-pound TKO or submission. He mentions that Hooper has moved up to 155 and is growing into his body.

The host leans Borshchev due to his improved takedown defense and striking advantage. He expects Borshchev to land big shots as Hooper recklessly closes distance, and hopes his submission defense holds up on the mat. He acknowledges Hooper's grappling danger but thinks Borshchev can survive and find a knockout. The pick is a lean, as he understands the underdog appeal.

Paul picks Hooper, echoing Cody's reasoning. He emphasizes that Borshchev's takedown defense is abysmal and that Hooper, despite his own flaws, has the grappling to exploit it. Paul notes that Hooper has shown heart and improvement at 155, and his BJJ is elite. He expects Hooper to get the fight to the ground and submit or control Borshchev. Paul calls it a 'dog pick' and is confident Hooper can win.

Angelo picks Jordan Leavitt, expecting him to be more physical and have slightly better wrestling. He notes both are similar grapplers with poor striking, but thinks Leavitt's power in his hands and ability to get takedowns will be the difference. He may bet if Leavitt becomes a bigger dog.

Big Brady likes Hooper, noting he's putting it together with incredible pace and cardio, as seen in his wins over Felipe Colares and Nick Fiore. He thinks Leavitt has solid wrestling and striking but slows down, as in the Claudio Puelles fight. He predicts Hooper will push a pace Leavitt can't keep up with and finish him late in the third round by TKO.

Cody picks Chase Hooper, noting his high volume striking and improved grappling. He mentions Hooper's durability and ability to win by submission or decision. Cody sees Leavitt as one-dimensional with low output and believes Hooper's size and skill advantage will prevail.

Hooper has improved his pressure fighting and can get the fight to the ground where he has a slick submission game. Leavitt has a weird submission game but questionable cardio and striking. Hooper can land better damage and control on top, winning by decision. However, both fighters are flaky, so confidence is low.

Paul is high on Chase Hooper, citing his youth, size advantage at lightweight, and improved wrestling. He notes Hooper's legitimate jiu-jitsu and cardio, and believes Leavitt is one-dimensional with no standout skills. Paul expects Hooper to drown Leavitt with pressure and volume.

Angelo picks Nick Fiore because Chase Hooper's striking is abysmal and he lacks wrestling to get the fight to the ground. He notes that Hooper is a 'full-on Jiu Jitsu nerd' with no hands, while Fiore is a solid grappler with better takedowns. However, he admits Hooper could sneak out a win since he may be the better BJJ artist, so no bet is placed.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper to submit Nick Fiore in the third round, but with low confidence. He notes Hooper has looked better recently, especially in the Felipe Colares fight, but also got knocked out badly by Steve Garcia. He expects this to be a grappling-heavy fight and trusts Hooper's cardio and experience in later rounds over Fiore, who slowed in his UFC debut. However, he admits having much confidence in Hooper is not smart.

Cody thinks Hooper's grappling and cardio could be decisive if the fight stays on the ground. He notes Hooper has been given a favorable matchup and that Fiore's cardio is untested. He takes the underdog for value.

Connor picks Hooper, noting that Fiore's pre-UFC wins were over weak competition and that he was easily handled by Rubezki. He believes Hooper's grappling advantage will be decisive, and that Fiore's aggression will play into Hooper's comfort zone. Connor also mentions that Hooper's move to lightweight is smart and that he will continue to pack on strength.

Daniel Levi picks Chase Hooper as an underdog. He argues that Nick Fiore's style plays into Hooper's strengths: Fiore likes to scramble and grapple, which is Hooper's wheelhouse. Levi notes Fiore is not a threat standing and that Hooper has superior BJJ and flexibility. He acknowledges Hooper's poor striking defense but believes Fiore will take the fight to the mat, where Hooper can win. He calls Hooper his 'fighter to watch.'

The host picks Nick Fiore but is not highly confident, calling it a toss-up between two BJJ black belts. He likes the over 1.5 rounds as the grappling may cancel out early. He thinks Fiore's aggressive style and top pressure could be the difference, and he expects a decision win.

Paul picks Fiore, citing his better striking and the fact that Hooper has taken a lot of damage. He thinks Fiore's grappling is solid and that Hooper's stand-up is not sustainable. He is not confident but leans Fiore.

The MMA Guru believes in New England Cartel's ability to improve fighters. He notes Fiore has dominated regional competition (though against cans) and showed toughness against Ricky Turcios on short notice. He expects Fiore's takedown defense and boxing to be too much for Chase Hooper, predicting a TKO finish on the feet in the first round. He doubts Hooper's athleticism and ability to get the fight to the ground.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper to win by second-round TKO. He highlights Hooper's improved wrestling and striking, and his dangerous ground game, noting that Hooper finished the tough Felipe Colares in his last fight. He contrasts Garcia's sketchy chin and poor grappling defense, referencing Garcia's fight against Luis Pena where he was controlled for 14 minutes. Brady believes Hooper will get the fight to the mat and finish Garcia.

Cody picks Chase Hooper, noting his improvements in wrestling and striking, and his physical maturity. He criticizes Steve Garcia's poor chin, striking defense, and lack of X-factor. Cody expects Hooper to take Garcia down, backpack him with a body triangle, and finish with ground and pound. He likes Hooper by knockout at +475.

Connor picks Hooper confidently, highlighting his improved understanding of MMA grappling and his aggressive ground and pound. He notes that Garcia's game is built on getting to the pocket and taking people down, which will give Hooper opportunities to wrap him up and do damage. Connor compares it to Garcia's fight against Luis Pena, but with more damage coming back.

Daniel Levi picks Chase Hooper, citing his heart, improvement, and grappling skills. He notes Garcia's weight issues and recent KO losses. He references the Luis Pena fight where Pena backpacked Garcia, giving confidence in Hooper's grappling. He is not interested in laying -260.

Jacob is very confident in Chase Hooper, citing his improved striking, toughness, and elite grappling. He notes Steve Garcia gets dropped often and has chin issues, and if Garcia wrestles, that plays into Hooper's strengths. Jacob sees a potential TKO or submission for Hooper.

Hooper is a jiu-jitsu ace but his striking is still developing. Garcia has power but poor takedown defense and can be controlled against the cage. Hooper should be able to take Garcia down and work for a submission, similar to Luis Pena's performance. However, the heavy chalk on Hooper is concerning given his past struggles. The submission prop at +250 is appealing.

Paul picks Chase Hooper but is hesitant to bet at -300. He notes Hooper's youth and development, but is concerned about his wrestling and stand-up still being works in progress. Paul says he will pick Hooper for the show but may not bet him.

The MMA Guru picks Chase Hooper over Steve Garcia, impressed by Hooper's last performance where he gassed out and finished Felipe Colares. He notes Hooper's grappling pace and ability to drown opponents on the ground. He believes Garcia, coming off a brutal KO loss, will struggle with Hooper's pressure and that Hooper will win by 29-28 decision, losing the first but winning the last two rounds.

Angelo picks Felipe Colares because he believes Colares's determination and forward pressure will overwhelm Chase Hooper. He criticizes Hooper's reliance on BJJ tricks without wrestling to get the fight to the ground, and notes that Colares is a black belt who can handle Hooper's jiu-jitsu. He also points out that Hooper crumbles under pressure, as seen in his last fight against Steve Peterson.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper for the upset, citing Hooper's youth, size advantage (6 inches reach), and potential improvements after an 11-month layoff. He is not impressed with Felipe Colares as a -180 favorite, noting Colares' poor wrestling and striking. He expects a very close, competitive decision win for Hooper but is not betting this fight.

Cody leans Hooper as a live underdog, citing his size advantage (6'1" vs 5'8"), potential improvements after a year off, and Colares' susceptibility to being taken down. He thinks Hooper could use his length to grapple and control Colares, but acknowledges Hooper's poor striking and wrestling in the past. He is not confident but sees a path.

The host picks Felipe Colares to win. He mentions that Hooper's only path to victory is by submission, and he thinks Colares will be able to avoid that. He does not elaborate further but clearly favors Colares.

Paul does not give a clear pick. He says he can see the argument for Hooper at plus money but is struggling to get there. He notes Colares' grappling and Hooper's flaws.

Big Brady picks Steven Peterson, emphasizing Peterson's 75% takedown defense and strong get-up game, which should neutralize Hooper's grappling. He notes Hooper's poor takedown accuracy (7%) and striking defense, and believes Peterson will out-strike Hooper on the feet. He expects a decision win.

Cody picks Peterson, citing his experience, takedown defense, and wild striking that will be effective against Hooper. He thinks Hooper is too green and one-dimensional, and that Peterson will win by decision or TKO. He also likes the over 2.5 rounds.

Daniel Levi picks Chase Hooper, despite acknowledging Hooper's poor striking and being a punching bag. He notes that Hooper has a path to victory by using his length and kicks to keep Peterson at range, and that Hooper has been training with Wonderboy Thompson. Levi is underwhelmed by Peterson's tape and thinks Hooper's toughness and submission ability could be factors. He admits Peterson has more experience but trusts Hooper's improvements.

Peterson is a veteran with superior striking and serviceable takedown defense. Hooper is still green and relies on jiu-jitsu, but Peterson has never been submitted in his career. Peterson should keep the fight standing and outpoint Hooper, likely winning a decision. Hooper's durability means a finish is unlikely.

Paul picks Peterson but is not betting it. He thinks Hooper's striking is a massive work in progress and Peterson's durability and experience will be key. He likes the over 2.5 rounds as a safer play.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper to win by first-round submission. He notes Hooper's grappling advantage and Barrett's poor submission defense, but warns against betting Hooper at -400 due to the price. He suggests looking at a prop instead.

Daniel acknowledges Hooper's striking flaws but believes his jiu-jitsu is elite. He views Barrett as a tough brawler who has been submitted before and thinks Hooper will find a way to get the fight to the mat and submit him.

Hooper is the better grappler and should be able to get the fight to the ground against Barrett, who has poor takedown defense. Hooper's jiu-jitsu is elite and he will likely secure a submission in the first or second round. The -400 line is too wide for a developing fighter, but Hooper should win comfortably.

Big Brady picks Chase Hooper by first-round submission, confident that Hooper's elite BJJ will overwhelm Caceres once the fight hits the ground. He notes Caceres has poor takedown defense and has been submitted multiple times. He warns that Hooper's striking and wrestling are weak, but believes he can get the takedown. He suggests looking at the submission prop if it's plus money.

Daniel is not sold on Hooper's striking defense but acknowledges his slick jiu-jitsu and top game. He notes that Caceres has been submitted multiple times and that Hooper's path to victory is on the ground. He expects Hooper to find a submission somewhere along the way, but admits it's sketchy and that he will look to fade Hooper soon.

Alex Caceres is a tough veteran with good submission defense and refined striking. Chase Hooper is young and still developing; his striking is awkward and his strength is lacking, which has prevented him from finishing submissions. Caceres should have the advantage on the feet and be able to defend Hooper's grappling. At plus money, Caceres offers value.