Alex Caceres Beats Chase Hooper at UFC 250, Then Submits Austin Springer

Mainly plant-based UFC featherweight Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres submitted Austin Springer in the first round in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 29, his second win in under three months, fight records show.

It was a chaotic week. Caceres was due to face Giga Chikadze, who withdrew after a positive Covid-19 test. Newcomer Kevin Croom stepped in and was then replaced by Springer, who came in five pounds heavy at 151lb. The fight went ahead at catchweight and Springer was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Caceres. Then Caceres made him tap inside a round.

Back in June he won a unanimous decision over Chase Hooper at UFC 250. That makes three straight wins, going back to his decision over Steven Peterson last July.

Caceres changed how he ate years ago, after watching documentaries and reading up on food. He told UFC.com what started it:

One of the movies that had a big impact on me, on my diet, was 'Forks Over Knives'. It really showed us that most of the food we're eating in this Westernized diet is actually the opposite of what we think it is and it is very detrimental to our health. I started cutting dairy, lactose, processed foods, and processed meat out of my diet.

He said the change gave him so much energy he couldn't burn it all off in training: "One of the most profound things this diet gave me is the clarity of thought."

Caceres follows in the footsteps of the most famous plant-powered fighter in the sport. Back in 2016 plant-based Nate Diaz beat Conor McGregor in a shock victory, and last August Diaz returned after three years to beat Anthony Pettis at UFC 241.

Three in a row for Bruce Leeroy. Powered by plants.