Chase Hooper says a return to his grappling roots is the key to his next UFC chapter ahead of Mitch Ramirez bout in Oklahoma City

Chase Hooper is approaching the next stage of his UFC career with a message that is simple in tone, even if it is difficult in execution: go back to what worked, then evolve from there. The 26-year-old lightweight, who has already spent nearly seven years competing in the UFC, is set to fight Mitch Ramirez this Saturday in Oklahoma City.

In an official preview published by UFC, Hooper framed his preparation as a focused adjustment rather than a reinvention. He believes returning to his grappling roots will restore the core of his game, while also allowing him to embrace change that fits the demands of where he is in his career now. That blend, he said, is what will fuel the next chapter.

Hooper’s career arc has long been shaped by his age and his early arrival in the promotion. UFC noted that he was once viewed as one of the organization’s youngest prospects, and the move from prospect to established contender brings different pressures and different opponents. In that context, Hooper’s emphasis on refining what made him successful reads as a response to the way elite fighters develop and scout one another over time.

Saturday’s matchup in Oklahoma City against Ramirez gives Hooper a clear, immediate test of that philosophy. While Hooper’s stated focus is on grappling fundamentals and refinement, the fight itself will still require execution across the full range of MMA, including entries, transitions, and decision-making once the bout becomes a live, evolving contest.

What also stands out is Hooper’s framing of “embracing change.” For fighters in their mid-20s, change can mean many things: adjustments to pacing, alterations to how and when they seek dominant positions, or changes to how they recover between rounds. In Hooper’s telling, the goal is not to abandon his identity, but to shape it into a version that can hold up against the present-day caliber of UFC lightweight competition.

For Ramirez, the significance of the bout is straightforward as well, even if the preview centers on Hooper’s mindset. The UFC stage in front of a home crowd setting in Oklahoma City provides a firm spotlight for either fighter to clarify where they stand in the division’s competitive order.

As Hooper and Ramirez prepare to meet, the story to watch is whether Hooper’s attempt to tighten the elements that first brought him success translates into control and sustained advantage once the pace and resistance reach UFC levels. The result will likely shape how both fighters are viewed moving forward, especially in a division where momentum and stylistic clarity tend to matter as much as raw talent.