A couple of big fights in the lightweight and welterweight divisions have landed on the upcoming UFC Qatar card.
The UFC makes its debut in Qatar care of a Fight Night event scheduled for the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena on November 22, 2025. On Wednesday, UFC President and CEO Dana White announced some big fights for the show, including the headliner: that will see lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) and Dan Hooker (24-12) face off.
Tsarukyan was expected to fight Islam Makhachev for 155lb gold earlier this year, only to pull out last minute due to a back injury, much to the annoyance of the UFC. That seems to have dropped the Armenian down a spot or two, with Paddy Pimblett or Justin Gaethje looking more likely to be Ilia Topuria’s first title defense.
Having last competed in April of 2025, Tsarukyan has won four straight, including victories over Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush. He did serve as a back-up fighter for UFC 317 in July, but was not needed.
Hooker has also been out for over a year, last having fought (and won) against Matuesz Gamrot in August of 2024 at UFC 305. “The Hangman” has won his last three bouts.
As for the welterweight showdown announced on Wednesday for UFC Qatar, that will see ex-champ Belal Muhmmad (24-4, 1NC) looking to bounce back from the loss of his title to Jack Della Maddalena. He’ll be taking on Irish star Ian Machado Garry (16-1), whose only loss to date has come against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Garry got back in the win column earlier this year with a victory over Carlos Prates. He then served as a back-up fighter for Muhammad vs. JDM.
UFC Qatar currently features the following reported match-ups:
- Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker
- Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry
- Alex Perez vs. Asu Almabayev
- Jan Błachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov
- Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Rafael Cerqueira
- Bekzat Almakhan vs. Aleksandre Topuria
- Felipe Lima vs. Daniel Marcos
- Serghei Spivac vs. Shamil Gaziev
- Marek Bujło vs. Denzel Freeman
- Ismail Naurdiev vs. Ryan Loder
- Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai
