Chase Hooper is one of the UFC's most explosive young featherweights, and his prank on Jorge Masvidal is still a classic. Nicknamed The Dream, Hooper became the youngest fighter ever signed by the UFC at age 20, building his career in mixed martial arts on relentless grappling and a devastating D'Arce choke finishing rate. During UFC 246 media day in January 2020, Hooper, who shares an uncanny resemblance to Ben Askren, pretended to be Askren's son and asked Masvidal on camera why did you do that to my dad, referencing his five-second knockout of Askren. A visibly confused Masvidal apologized before catching on to the bit. Known for ferocious submissions and quick wit, Hooper remains one of combat sports' most likable pranksters.
Long before Chase Hooper became known as one of the UFC's sharpest young featherweights, he was already making headlines for something far less orthodox — pulling off one of the most memorable pranks in recent combat sports history.
During media day at UFC 246 in January 2020, Hooper approached Jorge Masvidal on camera, claimed to be Ben Askren's son, and asked him point-blank why he had done that to his dad — a direct callback to Masvidal's notorious five-second knockout of Askren at UFC 239. Masvidal, visibly caught off guard, reportedly began to apologize before realizing the gag. The moment spread quickly and has since earned a permanent place in UFC lore.
The prank worked largely because Hooper, nicknamed The Dream, bears a striking physical resemblance to Askren. Hooper, now 27 and fighting out of Combat Sport and Fitness, carries a professional record of 17-5-1 and holds the distinction of being the youngest fighter ever signed by the UFC. Standing six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw has built his reputation around relentless grappling, averaging 2.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a rate that puts him among the division's most dangerous finishers on the ground.
Masvidal, now 41 and fighting out of American Top Team, holds a career record of 35-17-0. The Gamebred striker stands five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach and averages 4.05 significant strikes per minute, a testament to the pressure-heavy style that made his knockout of Askren one of the sport's most replayed moments.
Askren himself, now 42 and a former Roufusport product, went 19-2-0 across his professional career and was known for elite wrestling, averaging 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes before his in-cage days came to a close.
Why it matters
- The prank cemented Hooper's reputation as one of the sport's most genuinely likable personalities alongside his grappling credentials.
- It keeps the Masvidal-Askren moment alive in UFC culture years after UFC 239.
- Hooper's ability to blend humor with legitimate top-tier featherweight talent makes him an unusually compelling figure in the division.
