Submission specialist Chase Hooper (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will face his toughest test at lightweight yet at UFC 310. After a rough stretch at featherweight, which included a devastating first round knockout loss to Steve Garcia, Hooper elected to make the jump up to 155-lb in 2023. This decision has since paid off in spades for the 25-year old, with “The Dream” going 3-0 in the division, so far, compiling wins against Nick Fiore, Jordan Leavitt, and Viacheslav Borshchev. This Saturday, however, Hooper will have to contend with a true veteran of the weight class in the form of Clay Guida (38-24 MMA, 18-18 UFC), a man who has nearly 40 UFC bouts under his belt and has competed against some of the best fighters from multiple eras of the sport.
Examining Chase Hooper
Making his company debut in 2019 as an undefeated 7-0 fighter, the young Hooper made an immediate impression by securing a massive round one stoppage win in his match with Daniel Teymur. This made him one of the more promising up-and-comers in the division, but, sadly, his momentum was brought to a screeching halt in his next contest by Ultimate Fighter 12 alum Alex Caceres, who handedly defeated Hooper by unanimous decision. Throughout his next four fights at Featherweight, the Combat Sports and Fitness product continued to struggle versus some of the other top prospects at 145 lbs., racking up an even 2-2 record by the time 2022 came to a close. Putting on another ten pounds the following year, however, Hooper began to breathe new life into his career, rattling off three straight victories at lightweight to get himself back on track toward contender status.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 20: (L-R) Chase Hooper punches Nick Fiore in their Lightweight bout during the UFC Vegas 73 event at UFC Apex on May 20, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Looking at Clay Guida
Contrary to his opponent, the grizzled Guida first put on a pair of UFC gloves all the way back in 2006, scoring a second round submission over Justin James. Since then, the Illinois-native has gone on to enjoy quite the storied tenure within the organization, claiming notable triumphs against several future and past champions in Rafael dos Anjos, Anthony Pettis, and BJ Penn. He was also made a part of the sport’s history when in 2019 his legendary 2009 scrap with Diego Sanchez was inducted into the prestigious UFC Hall of Fame, being slotted into its acclaimed Fight Wing.
LAS VEGAS – JUNE 20: Diego Sanchez (black shorts) def. Clay Guida (white shorts) – Split Decision during The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale at The Pearl at the Palms on June 20, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Although he remains an iconic figure in the company to this day, Guida has recently fallen on hard times. Having recorded his last win exactly two years ago over Scott Holtzman at the time of this writing, Guida has yet to get his hand raised inside the Octagon, suffering back-to-back unanimous decision defeats to Rafa García and Joaquim Silva.
Oddly enough, their matchup at UFC 310 will not be the first time Hooper and Guida have met in a combat sports setting. Previously, the two had locked horns in a grappling match at Fury Pro Grappling 6 in 2022, where Hooper emerged the winner with a first round calf slicer. Looking to replicate the same success he had against his older foe this weekend, Hooper has a chance to extend his divisional win streak to four should he manage to turn back the 155-lb. mainstay. For the 42-year old Guida, his upcoming fight against “The Dream” could spell a potential nightmare for his chances of remaining on the UFC roster. Staring down the possibility of a three-bout losing streak, in addition to residing in a weight class populated with a bevy of strong, young talent, we might just be witnessing the final fight night walk of “The Carpenter”’s revered career.
