TLDR
- Chase Hooper submitted Mitch Ramirez with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC Oklahoma City
- Hooper revealed he was considering quitting MMA if he lost the fight after two straight knockout defeats
- The 26-year-old missed weight but dominated on the ground to secure his ninth UFC victory
- Hooper credited training with Michael Chiesa for helping him return to his grappling-focused style
- The win ended a year-long drought since his last victory and saved his UFC career
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | sports.yahoo.com | sports.yahoo.com
Chase Hooper submitted Mitch Ramirez in the first round at UFC Oklahoma City on Saturday night after nearly walking away from mixed martial arts. The 26-year-old fighter revealed he was considering leaving the sport if he lost the fight.
Hooper finished Ramirez with a rear-naked choke at 2:15 of the first round inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. The victory improved his UFC record to 9-5 and ended a two-fight losing streak.
“I told my wife, ‘I’m not losing three in a row. If I lose three fights in a row, I don’t deserve to be here,” Hooper said after the fight. “It was very much a make-or-break moment for me.”
The lightweight fighter had suffered brutal knockout losses to Alexander Hernandez and Lance Gibson Jr. in his previous two bouts. Those losses came after a five-fight winning streak that appeared to show Hooper hitting his stride in the UFC.
Missing Weight But Not the Finish
Hooper failed to make weight for the scheduled featherweight bout, forcing the fight to become a catchweight contest. Despite the weigh-in miss, he looked sharp once the cage door closed.
He took Ramirez down early in the fight and quickly transitioned to his opponent’s back. Ramirez tried to reverse position but Hooper used his grappling skills to maintain control and secure the choke.
QUICK WORK FOR CHASE HOOPER 💪
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The finish came after Hooper worked through Ramirez’s hand fighting and locked in the submission. Ramirez tapped out after a few moments of trying to defend.
“It feels great,” Hooper said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “My two checks is going to help out with that new baby.”
Michael Chiesa’s Advice Pays Off
Hooper credited fellow Washington state native Michael Chiesa for helping him rediscover his grappling roots. He had been trying to stand and trade in recent fights, which resulted in knockout losses.
“It was super validating to just know the thing that got me into the sport, the thing that got me here to the UFC, is what’s keeping me here,” Hooper explained. “I had a really good talk with Michael Chiesa.”
Hooper traveled to Spokane this training camp to work with Chiesa, who recently retired from the UFC. Chiesa built his entire career around grappling and submission wins.
“I took a couple pages out of his playbook and obviously, it worked out,” Hooper said.
The victory was Hooper’s first since defeating Jim Miller in April 2025. He admitted the year-long gap without a win had been difficult to endure.
“It’s been over a year since I won my last fight,” Hooper said. “It’s been over a year since I’ve been able to feel this. It’s a drug. You crave it.”
Hooper told his wife before the fight that he would get a regular job if he lost to Ramirez. The win allows him to continue his UFC career for at least a few more fights.
The loss dropped Ramirez to 0-3 in the UFC and 8-4 overall in his professional MMA career. He was also desperate for a win heading into the bout.
Hooper has seven finishes in his nine UFC victories. He did not apologize for missing weight but expressed excitement about his wife’s pregnancy and the upcoming birth of their child.
