Dan Hooker was undaunted regardless of getting into the principle occasion of UFC Qatar on November 22, 2025 as a big underdog towards Arman Tsarukyan. This matchup is rather more than a typical light-weight bout at Doha’s ABHA Area. UFC President Dana White has confirmed that the bout will probably be a light-weight title combat towards Ilia Topuria, making it the de facto No. 1 contender’s combat with the very best stakes conceivable.
Dan Hooker slams Justin Gaethje: Arman Tsarukyan led me to the championship
Ranked No. 7 within the UFC light-weight division, Hooker sits firmly on the prime of the promotion’s ranks regardless of combined outcomes. The 35-year-old New Zealand fighter has a report of 24 wins and 12 losses all through his combined martial arts profession and is using a powerful three-fight profitable streak heading into Qatar. Most not too long ago, he received a break up resolution victory over Mateusz Gamlot at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia in August 2024, which earned him Struggle of the Night time honors.
Georgian-Armenian martial artist Tsarukyan enters the competition because the front-runner. Tsarukyan, who has knowledgeable report of twenty-two wins and three losses and is at the moment ranked No. 2 within the light-weight division, is on a four-fight win streak throughout the UFC. His most up-to-date combat was towards veteran Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024.
The story Hooker has created focuses on the strain Tsarukyan places on this contest. Hooker spoke to Sky Sports activities in regards to the psychological limitations of being a giant underdog and expressed his real enthusiasm for going through a fighter that the combined martial arts world considers to be much more gifted.
“This match excites me as a result of they really feel that Armand is a lot better than me. As a lot as I do one thing good, Armand will look much more of a idiot. He was alleged to be the man to beat this tremendous freak athlete, title contender, Ilia Topuria. They’re hiding the champion from him. And now he is dropping to Dan Hooker, a New Zealander who’s misplaced a 3rd of his matches.”
Tsarukyan has been out of competitors for a number of months and is bearing the burden of heightened expectations after failing to qualify for a championship. A loss to Hooker can be a significant setback for the No. 2 ranked contender, however a win for Hooker would seal one of many largest upsets in latest historical past of the light-weight division.
Dialogue of the affect on the title extends past Tsarukyan’s future. Hooker has been vocal about why this bout is extra beneficial than one other alternative in a light-weight title combat. In the course of the interview, Hooker made a distinction between combating Tsarukian and going through Justin Gaethje, who stands alongside Paddy Pimblett as a possible challenger to Topria.
“Justin Gaethje will not be that man. Justin Gaethje will not be going to take me to that man (champion). It simply offers me a headache. Arman Tsarukyan is the way in which to the title. That is the way in which to the champion, that is the way in which to the very best man.”
Ilia Topuria grew to become the tenth two-division champion in UFC historical past by knocking out Charles Oliveira within the opening spherical of UFC 317 in June 2025. The 28-year-old Georgian maintains an undefeated report of 17-0 all through his skilled profession and is ranked No. 1 on the UFC pound-for-pound checklist as of July 2025. His light-weight title protection has not but been introduced, however hypothesis has it that it will likely be in January in 2025. Relying on negotiations with the UFC, he might face Gaethje or doubtlessly Pimblett.
The occasion marks the UFC’s first look in Qatar and would be the area’s first Struggle Night time card after the deal was introduced in July 2025. Hooker enters the sport in good kind regardless of his function because the underdog. His three straight wins show he stays able to competing with the elite of the light-weight division. Nonetheless, Tsarukyan represents the very best degree of opposition Hooker will face in latest reminiscence.
For Hooker, Nov. 22 will probably be a career-defining alternative. A win wouldn’t solely safe him a title shot towards Topuria, but additionally validate his declare that elite competitors is extra thrilling than a protected matchup on the backside of the rankings. For Tsarukyan, this contest serves as a essential step to rebuilding his title as a championship contender after dropping momentum on account of an damage stoppage. The stakes could not be larger for each opponents.
