UFC Seattle MMA Match Preview: Chase Hooper (16-4-1) vs. Lance Gibson Jr. (9-2-0)
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington, United States.
Start Times: Prelims begin at 5:00 PM ET (2:00 PM PT); Main Card at 8:00 PM ET. The full event streams live on Paramount+.
This lightweight matchup is featured on the prelims portion of the stacked UFC Fight Night headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer. It marks a home-state return for Washington native Hooper.
Injury Report
No injuries or withdrawals have been reported for either fighter. The bout is fully confirmed and on schedule with both athletes expected to compete at full strength. Gibson enters with a full training camp after his short-notice UFC debut in December 2025; Hooper has had a standard camp following his August 2025 knockout loss.
Fighter Matchups and Profiles
Chase Hooper (“The Dream,” Enumclaw, Washington, United States – Combat Sport & Fitness)
Record: 16-4-1 (UFC: 8-4)
Age: 26
Height/Reach: 6’1″ / 74–75.5″
UFC Ranking: ~#29 Lightweight
Style: Long, rangy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist (8 career submissions, 50% of wins) with improving striking and opportunistic grappling. Excellent back-takes, armbars, and rear-naked chokes; thrives when he can drag fights to the mat. Six first-round finishes in his career.
Lance Gibson Jr. (“Fearless,” Canada – Gibson Kickboxing & Pankration / Gibson MMA)
Record: 9-2-0 (UFC: 0-1)
Age: 31
Height/Reach: 5’9″–5’10” / 72″
UFC Ranking: Unranked
Style: Well-rounded wrestler/striker with solid power (4 KO/TKO wins) and submission threat (3 career subs, including RNCs). Aggressive pressure and takedown game; son of veteran fighter Lance Gibson Sr. and a former Bellator competitor. Seven career finishes overall.
Key Physical/Style Edges: Hooper holds a significant 3–4 inch height/reach advantage and will look to use range before shooting takedowns. Gibson counters with physical strength, wrestling pedigree, and forward pressure that could neutralize Hooper’s length on the feet. This is a classic “UFC veteran grappler vs. hungry regional finisher” clash with home-crowd energy for Hooper.
Recent Form
Chase Hooper (16-4-1, 1-fight losing streak):
Aug. 16, 2025 – KO/TKO loss (Punches, R1, 4:58) vs. Alexander Hernandez (UFC 319)
Apr. 12, 2025 – UD win (3 rounds) vs. Jim Miller (UFC 314)
Dec. 7, 2024 – SUB win (Armbar, R1, 3:41) vs. Clay Guida (UFC 310)
May 11, 2024 – SUB win (R2) vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (UFC Fight Night)
Hooper looked sharp in three straight wins before being starched in his most recent outing, showing finishing ability but vulnerability to elite strikers.
Lance Gibson Jr. (9-2-0, 1-fight losing streak):
Dec. 13, 2025 – Split Decision loss (3 rounds) vs. King Green (UFC debut, short notice)
Nov. 23, 2024 – SUB win (RNC, R1, 2:30) vs. R.J. Hoyt (ExciteFight)
May 25, 2024 – KO/TKO win (Punches, R1, 0:51) vs. Charon Spain (ExciteFight)
Gibson showed toughness in a competitive UFC debut loss on short notice but has elite finishing power in regional bouts.
Fight History Summary
Hooper (pro since 2017) was the youngest DWCS signee in UFC history and has 23 Octagon appearances across featherweight and lightweight. He boasts a 50% submission rate in wins and has never been submitted in the UFC; recent form shows maturation but occasional striking holes. Gibson (pro since ~2017) has Bellator experience and a 78% finish rate. His lone UFC loss was a gritty short-notice decision; he remains largely unproven at the highest level but carries dangerous power and grappling.
FIGHT ODDS
Chase Hooper – 260
Lance Gibson Jr. + 200
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 27, 2026
