Ahead of his huge scrap against Jim Miller at UFC 314, Chase Hooper has made a bizarre comparison between being an MMA fighter and another profession.
Despite being just 25 years old, Chase Hooper is already regarded as a veteran in the UFC, heading into his 11th fight in the promotion since debuting in 2019.
This coming Saturday at UFC 314 in Miami, ‘The Dream’ Hooper takes on fellow UFC veteran Jim Miller, who made his debut in professional MMA when Hooper was just 5 years old and his UFC debut when Hooper was only 9 years old.
After competing at UFC 300 last April, becoming the only fighter to have competed on UFC 100, UFC 200, and UFC 300, Miller went on to score another submission win over Damon Jackson at UFC 309 last November.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Ahead of his big fight against ‘A-10’ Miller at UFC 314, Hooper and his partner have welcomed a baby into the world.
Although Hooper’s wife also has a background in martial arts, being a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu, Hooper doesn’t want his child to grow up as a professional fighter, bizarrely comparing it to being a stripper.
“Hopefully, no fighting for either of them. Personally, I just don’t want my daughter to be a stripper or an MMA fighter, that’s kind of a similar level to me,” Hooper said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I mean, you’re dancing around in your underwear for people’s entertainment, are you not? MMA is getting more there, for sure, but like, if I had a son and he wanted to fight that’d be different, but a daughter I guess is just a natural (instinct that) you want to protect them.
“Anybody in this sport will tell you that, if I fight for my whole career to provide for my family and then they turn around and do the same thing, you kind of feel like you left a little on the table, I guess. Hopefully, me fighting will mean they don’t have to fight in the future, they don’t have to trade their physical and brain health for money,” Hooper continued.
Sharing the card with Hooper are lightweight contenders Paddy Pimblett and Michael Chandler, as Pimblett looks to put himself into title contention with a win.
Fans have questioned the UFC’s matchmaking regarding this fight, claiming that it’s been put together in the hope that ‘The Baddy’ beats Chandler.
“I think this is the easiest fight they could’ve given Paddy in the top 10. If we get the Michael Chandler that fought Charles Oliveira, the one with minimal grappling and not using his wrestling, I think Paddy takes it, probably by decision,” Hooper predicted.
Chase HooperJim MillerLightweightUFCUFC 314
