Chase Hooper Targets Claudio Puelles After Submission Win Over Jordan Leavitt
Chase Hooper is targeting a clash against fellow leg lock specialist Claudio Puelles after his victory over Jordan Leavitt at UFC Fight Night 232 over the weekend.
Advertisement
“I’d like someone like a Claudio Puelles. He beat Jordan, I believe, by decision. Then he also has a kneebar win over Clay Guida,” Hooper said. “I just beat Jordan tonight, and I’ve got a calf slicer over Clay in a grappling match. But still, I would love to fight another guy that’s big into leg locks – another big jiu-jitsu guy in the division. Tonight is the perfect example. Those are fun matchups, and I think they’re fun to watch. It’s a style of grappling people can get down with.”
Puelles, who suffered a TKO loss to Dan Hooker in his most recent outing, beat Leavitt via decision at UFC Fight Night 189 in June 2021. The Peruvian has earned four of his seven submission wins via kneebar, three of which came in the UFC. The 27-year-old hasn’t competed since his loss to Hooker in November 2022 ended a five-fight winning streak.
Meanwhile, Hooper has earned back-to-back victories this year after moving up to 155 pounds. Even if the Puelles booking doesn’t come to fruition, Hooper hopes to remain active in the near future with his first child on the way.
“I’ve got to start making a little more of that dad money,” he said. “I’d like to be a little bit more active, especially here at ’55 where I don’t have to cut as hard. I’d like to get three fights in.”
« Previous Fight Facts: UFC Fight Night 232 ‘Allen vs. Craig’
Next Benoit St. Denis Explains Desire for ‘Violent Fight’ Against Justin Gaethje »
More