The New Breed: Chase Hackett

Chase Hackett's stock is on the rise after knocking out WEC's Drew Dober.

Age: 23

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 155

Fighting out of: Littleton, CO

Nickname: Prison Stare

MMA Record: 5-1

A trip in a medi-vac helicopter can serve as cause to ponder your existence and contemplate your future. For Chase Hackett, this trip was enough to steer him away from the dangerous life of motocross racing and turn his attention to a kinder, gentler sport… MMA fighting.

Hackett’s helicopter journey followed a series of mishaps that started during a motocross race in Longmont, Colorado.  “It was the first moto of the day”, said Hackett. “The gate drops and I get a great start, however, I don’t make it around the first turn.  I went down and was run over by the other riders.  When I went to get back up, that’s when I saw my wrist almost touching my elbow”.

Surgeons were able to repair his broken bones, but Hackett was put in a cast from his hand to his shoulder. This would keep most people away from motorcycles for a lifetime, but Hackett couldn’t resist the urge. Just weeks later, during a camping trip, he convinced his parents to let him ride again. “It’s trail riding, nothing is going to happen.  It’s not a race or anything.”  Hackett told his parents. 

Still in a full arm cast, Hackett crashed his bike again. Flying over his handlebars, he put out his already broken arm to break the fall. Bad move. Hackett was knocked unconscious from the impact and added to his collection of broken bones.

“All I have memory of is the medics asking me if I knew who the current president was and I could not think of it”.

Hackett learned he was not invincible. He gave up motocross racing and was introduced to BJJ and MMA by his step-dad Tony Miller, an MMA fighter himself. Hackett was hooked.

“Today, mixed martial arts have become such a passion for me because it’s so similar to racing in terms of the competition as well as the adrenaline and emotions.  People think I’m crazy when I tell them I gave up motocross for fighting, but for me, it’s far more rewarding with a lot less risk”.

Hackett trains at Gumm Mixed Martial Arts, where he is coached by UFC veteran Brad Gumm and assistant coach Vern Baca.  Hackett also credits much of his success to his training partners Jeremy Malaterre, Chris Camozzi and Nick Macias, to name a few.

Brad Gumm likes what he sees in Hackett, “I couldn’t ask for anything more from a fighter. He trains his ass off, he is a super humble guy and he always performs like he’s had 20 pro fights”.

A well-rounded fighter, Hackett lists his strengths as “being really, really ridiculously good looking” and his weaknesses as “beautiful women and sunsets”. Whether this is his sense of humor, or the residual effects of prior head injuries, is a call only a trained physician can make.

Regardless of his current mental status, Hackett is coming off a huge win. He recently beat the undefeated, WEC signed fighter, Drew Dober. With a record of 13-0, Dober was a huge favorite. In fact, many didn’t believe Hackett stood a chance.

“It was an honor to fight Drew. He is a class act. That fight proved to myself that with hard work and determination you can achieve what some may doubt is possible”. Gumm added, “We came up with a game plan and Chase stuck to it perfectly”.

Hackett is back in the gym and hoping to fight again this November. His opponent is unknown, but Hackett would like to fight “The Ultimate Fighter 9” veteran Cameron Dollar. “Cameron has had a lot of recognition from TUF. I’ve watched him fight and I think we would make a good match-up.”

Until that fight, Hackett has promised to work on his already strong Tae Bo base. Gumm backed this up, “His Tae Bo skills have surpassed me. I think it is time to let him take over the class”.

Ridiculously good looking and a Tae Bo master, the future is looking bright for Chase Hackett.

Story by Troy “Red” Barron. Troy is a chiropractor, strength & conditioning specialist, “elderly” amateur MMA fighter and the owner of PerformanceMMA.com.