Arman Tsarukyan draws Dan Hooker for UFC Qatar main event

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will travel to Qatar for the first time on Nov. 22 with a fight card headlined by a bout between lightweight contenders. 

No. 2 ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan takes on No. 6 ranked Dan Hooker at Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in the UFC Fight Night 265 featured fight. The fight promotion made the announcement on Wednesday.

Tsarukyan (22-3) last fought in April 2024, defeating former champion Charles Oliveira via split decision. The win earned the Armenian a title shot. He was scheduled to take on then-champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January but pulled out of the fight the day before the event due to a back injury. 

He was the backup fighter for the UFC 317 lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Oliveira successfully making weight but was not needed. He'll make the walk to the octagon on a four-fight winning streak.  

Hooker (24-12) last fought at UFC 305 in August, defeating Mateusz Gamrot via split decision. He'll enter the fight riding a three-fight winning streak.