Tsarukyan, Hooker headline first UFC card in Qatar

The UFC’s first-ever Fight Night in Qatar will be headlined by a lightweight showdown between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker at the ABHA Arena in Doha on the evening of 22 November 2025.

Qatar will become the 32nd country to hold a UFC event – also the third country in the Middle East, after the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Tsarukyan (22-3) is the No 2 ranked fighter in the division and has put together a four-fight win streak, most recently defeating former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira via split decision at UFC 300 in April last year.

Hooker (24-12), No 7 in the division, has claimed three successive wins – most recently edging Mateusz Gamrot via split decision at UFC 305 in August of last year.

The 35-year-old New Zealand fighter says he has no regard for Tsarukyan: “I think [Arman’s] a prick. He’s been chiming at me since he first got into the UFC, and I’m just not one. I’ll chime back.

“He discredits me as a fighter. He says that I turned him down and running away from him… I’m not one to mince my words when I’m talking back to someone.

“He’s a spoiled little rich kid that’s had everything handed to him. And I’m the complete opposite of that. I’ve taken everything that I have. I’ve worked hard. I come out of nothing. So I just want to rub it in his face. Money can’t help you beat Dan Hooker.”

The rest of the main card features a welterweight thriller in the co-main event, as former division champion Belal Muhammed takes on Ian Machado Garry; Volkan Oezdemir faces Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight battle; Jack Hermansson and Myktybek Orolbai go to war in another welterweight clash; heavyweights Serghei Spivac and Shamil Gaziev will throw down; and a flyweight opener pits Alex Perez against Asu Almabayev.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: TSARUKYAN VS. HOOKER – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Lightweight: Arman Tsarukyan v Dan Hooker

- Welterweight: Belal Muhammed v Ian Machado Garry

- Light heavyweight: Volkan Oezdemir v Alonzo Menifield

- Welterweight: Jack Hermansson v Myktybek Orolbai

- Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac v Shamil Gaziev

- Flyweight: Alex Perez v Asu Almabayev