Chase Hooper just beat Clay Guida, a fighter who was already in the UFC when Hooper was just seven years old.
In UFC 310, Chase, also known as “The Dream,” went up against the seasoned veteran Clay Guida, who has 63 MMA fights under his belt. Guida first stepped into the UFC in 2006, and now, nearly two decades later, he’s still fighting at 42. But he’s been struggling lately, losing his last three fights.
Chase Hooper proved at UFC 310 that the age difference really made an impact, dominating the fight in style.
Chase Hooper Secures Fourth Straight Win with Impressive Performance
Chase Hooper faced Clay Guida at UFC 310, and even though Guida was 17 years older, he fought with lots of energy, moving like a fighter just starting out. Joe Rogan quickly praised Hooper for his growing striking skills, but the 25-year-old soon showed his grappling abilities, which he’s known for.
Hooper quickly locked in an arm and earned a slick first-round submission win. By doing so, he made history by beating someone 6,488 days older than him. However, the largest age gap between UFC fighters was at UFC 4, when 27-year-old Royce Gracie faced 51-year-old Ron Van Clief in 1994.
Commentators praised Hooper’s impressive striking and grappling display at UFC 310.
Quick work for Chase Hooper 💪#UFC310 | LIVE NOW | ESPN+ 🍿 https://t.co/XX1YuUOYuv pic.twitter.com/jZGDWqQl0J
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 7, 2024
After winning the fight, Chase Hooper took the microphone and shared his thoughts on his journey in Dana White’s league, reflecting on the five years he’s spent there.
Clay Guida didn’t get a chance for a post-fight interview. Normally, someone with his long career would get a moment to talk, but last year he upset the UFC bosses when he pretended to retire after his loss to Rafa Garcia.
Chase Hooper is starting to feel like he truly belongs in the UFC.
When he first joined, things weren’t always easy for him. He was young and had a lot to learn, which led to a few losses in his 19-fight career.
But after focusing on improving his skills, he’s showing he’s ready to take the next step. During his post-fight interview, it was clear he feels confident and ready to take on the big challenges ahead.
“December 2019 I was in this very same Octagon,” Hooper told Rogan.
“An awkward 20-year-old kid trying to talk to you about personalized M&M’s.
“Here we are five years later, 10 fights in the UFC. It feels like everything is coming full circle.
“It’s really great to have all this stuff coming together and I feel like I belong. 10 fights. I’m here.”
