Madlab Michael Lurato advised sprinkling Alexander Hernandez inside-the-distance at +510 instead of the straight moneyline. Lurato argued Chase Hooper struggles to cut the cage and needs opponents to stand still so he can clinch and drag fights to the mat. Hernandez constantly retreats and side-steps, giving him space to strike while staying out of Hooper’s grappling range. Madlab expects Hernandez to ‘look good until he doesn’t,’ acknowledging the cardio risk, but believes the 5-to-1 price tag more than covers that downside. He framed it as a gut shot, not a system play, but one with real payout potential for bettors who already lean to the Hernandez side.

Madlab Michael Lurato called his shot on the +260 underdog Alexander Hernandez, predicting the Texan derails Chase Hooper’s winning streak inside the distance (+510). Lurato still sees the same athleticism, explosive entries and legitimate wrestling that stunned Beneil Dariush in Hernandez’s debut; the issue has always been cardio management, not talent. He questions Hooper’s resume – recent wins came over aging veterans Jim Miller and Clay Guida plus stylistically favorable matchups like Slava Borshchev – and thinks Hooper’s upright posture and reactive defense make his "great chin" look better than it is. If Hernandez keeps range, avoids prolonged grappling exchanges and "bully-balls" with power bursts, Lurato believes the favorite’s perceived invincibility collapses and the books are pricing that scenario too high.

Tim Welch said he is taking the PrizePicks "more" on 39.5 significant strikes for Alexander Hernandez against Chase Hooper. Welch called Hernandez an "explosive beast of an athlete" and thinks the matchup forces a stand-up battle because Hooper is primarily a jiu-jitsu scrambler. Over three rounds Welch expects Hernandez to sprawl, keep distance, and tee off, easily clearing forty landed strikes.