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.

Hooper and Leavitt went toe to toe in a high-paced grappling affair which ended quickly when “The Dream” capitalized on his opponent’s mistake to lock in a rear-naked choke at the 2:58 mark of Round 1. Hooper, who has a heel hook submission to his name, subsequently called out Puelles in a post-fight interview.

“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.”