Three fighters on Saturday’s UFC Qatar show staked claims for a championship shot in their next fight, with strong performances from Arman Tsarukyan, Ian Machado Garry and Kyoji Horiguchi highlighting the action at the Ali Bin Hamed al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan.
Tsarukyan (23-3) looked world-class in dispatching Dan Hooker (24-13) in the afternoon’s main event. Hooker showed the Armenian switching stances in the first minute of the contest, but unraveled quickly under the surging contender’s strength, athleticism and technique, both on the feet and on the ground.
When Tsarukyan got to full mount in the second frame, it was only a matter of time before his physical prowess paid dividends. He quickly forced a tap from Hooker with an arm-triangle submission to stake his claim as the next contender for Ilia Topuria’s lightweight championship, with the official stoppage coming at the 2:34 mark of the round.
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“If you’re here, Ilia, come on,” Tsarukyan said to Topuria, who had helped corner his brother, Aleksandre, for a decision win over Bekzat Almakhan on UFC Qatar’s preliminary card. “There is just one No. 1-contender, and his name is Arman Tsarukyan.”
Tsarukyan wasn’t the only one to further his career in such a way, as returning UFC fighter Horiguchi transferred his dominance from RIZIN and Bellator to the UFC’s Octagon with a third-round rear-naked choke on Tagir Ulanbekov.
“I feel very good right now because I come back to UFC,” Horiguchi said, after annihilating the No. 11-ranked Ulanbekov. “Of course, I want a UFC belt,” he added. “Where is [Alexandre] Pantoja?”
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That left Garry, who by no means was as electric in his victory as Tsarukyan or Horiguchi, but nonetheless handily defeated former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, then made a passionate plea for his shot at Islam Makhachev’s new 170-pound belt.
“I’m the best and you have a duty to defend that belt against the best in the world,” Garry said in a message to Makhachev. “I’m taking that throne from you. You’re done!”
Elsewhere on the card, Volkan Oezdemir beat Alonzo Menifield with beautiful boxing, Myktybek Orolbai battered Jack Hermansson, and Waldo Cortes-Acosta defeated Shamil Gaziev — all in the first round.
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Other standout performances from UFC Qatar included Luke Riley, who scored a first-round knockout win over Bogdan Grad; Asu Almabayaev, who defeated Alex Perez with a come-from-behind standing guillotine choke; and Ismail Naurdiev, who thumped Bekzat Almakhan in the very first round.
Check out full UFC Qatar: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s play-by-play of the main card.
Main card
Lightweight: Arman Tsarukyan def. Dan Hooker via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:34 of R2 | Watch highlights
Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
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Light heavyweight: Volkan Oezdemir def. Alonzo Menifield via KO (punches) at 1:127 of R1
Welterweight: Myktybek Orolbai def. Jack Hermansson via KO (punch) at 2:46 of R1 | Watch highlights
Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Shamil Gaziev via KO (punch) at 1:22 of R1 | Watch highlights
Preliminary card
Featherweight: Luke Riley def Bogdan Grad via KO (punches) at :30 of R2 | Watch highlights
Welterweight: Nicolas Dalby def. Saygid Izagakhmaev via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Flyweight: Asu Almabayev def. Alex Perez via submission (guillotine choke) at :22 of R3 | Watch highlights
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Light heavyweight: Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Rafael Cerqueira via submission (rear-naked choke) at :33 of R1 | Watch highlights
Bantamweight: Aleksandre Topuria def. Bekzat Almakhan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Middleweight: Ismail Naurdiev def. Ryan Loder via KO (punch) at 1:26 of Round 1
Lightweight: Nurullo Aliev def. Shem Rock via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Heavyweight: Denzel Freeman def. Marek Bujlo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Live coverage is over65 updates
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM PST
Alan Dawson
“I’m feeling great,” Tsarukyan said. “If you’re here, Ilia, come on. There is just one No.1-contender and his name is Arman Tsarukyan.”
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM PST
Alan Dawson
Tsarukyan scored so much damage in the opening round that Hooker’s corner couldn’t even calm the swelling on his eye before the second. Hooker with a solid three-strike combo using kicks and punches, but is momentarily later mauled by Tsarukyan who takes him to the ground with ease. Hooker gets a guillotine on Tsarukyan who turns him, gets his opponent in an arm-triangle, squeezes, and it’s OVER! Tsarukyan submits Hooker!!! What an incredibly dominant performance from the lightweight, who has to be the biggest challenge to Ilia Topuria right now!
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM PST
Alan Dawson
Dan Hooker switching stances in the opening 20 seconds, more often than he even strikes. He throws front kicks, switches again, and goes for a head kick as he seeks to keep Tsarukyan away from him. That was, until, the first shot attempt. Tsarukyan with a beautiful inside trip but Hooker’s defense is on point. Tsarukyan with a huge knee strike but Hooker just eats it. Tsarukyan with solid strikes in the middle stage of the opening round. When Hooker was switching stances he was doing enough to keep Tsarukyan off of him but Arman is smothering him now. Tsarukyan is far stronger on the ground, in masterful control, as Hooker can do little to thwart it.
Round 1: 10-9 Tsarukyan
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM PST
Alan Dawson
One of Europe’s best-known MMA coaches, John Kavanagh from the Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, once said Artem Lobov wouldn’t have been out of place on a medieval battlefield ripping his enemy’s head from their body and parading the skull around like a trophy. Considering how much Dan Hooker loves a fire-fight, I can’t help but think the same could be said about him. He’s in for a tough one against Arman Tsarukyan, but no matter how it goes, you’d think there is no way this could be a dud.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:26 PM PST
Alan Dawson
Ian Machado Garry and Belal Muhammad may have spoiled the run of finishes but there’s nothing like this main event to get back to that streak as Arman Tsarukyan is about to collide with Dan Hooker. Let’s GO!
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:23 PM PST
Alan Dawson
“I just beat the No.1-ranked welterweight on the planet,” Garry said. “I’m telling you right now, I’m the best in the world and you have a duty to defend that belt against the best in the world … I’m taking that throne from you. You’re done!”
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:21 PM PST
Alan Dawson
THERE IT IS! Garry with the dub!
He wins with scores of 30-27 x 2 and 29-28.
Garry moves to 17 wins (7 KOs and 1 Sub) against just the one defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM PST
Alan Dawson
And Muhammad took heed of his coach’s advice and has come out SWINGING to start the third round! He’s throwing with far more intent. But Garry times Muhammad with a huge punch. And then a spinning back fist! AND THEN A FRONT KICK! What a sequence from the Irishman. Midway through the round they wrestle along the fence. Garry breaks free and gets back to his jabbing. Garry’s engine is solid. He barely seems out of breath despite the grueling nature of the fight.
Round 3: 30-27 — Garry
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM PST
Alan Dawson
Though we’ve got Garry with a two round lead, the fight itself is closer than that scorecard suggests. Regardless, Muhammad’s corner advises him he’s 2-0 down and needs a knockout to guarantee the win.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM PST
Alan Dawson
As Muhammad sought to land one strike at the start of the second, Garry thumped him with a flurry of his own. Muhammad landed a huge right hand a moment later, though. Garry got back to his jabbing, and took backward steps to evade the incoming Muhammad power shot. Garry threw a leg kick but left himself open to a counter from Muhammad, who clinched, and tied Garry up against the fence. Garry broke free, though, before Muhammad could try the takedown. The referee allowed another timeout as Garry seemed to leave his fingers outstretched and made contact, again, with Muhammad. There’s been a lot of debate since Ciryl Gane’s foul on Tom Aspinall regarding eye pokes, with discussions among referees on how to manage fouls. This time, it’s ruled a clean shot. No foul. No penalty.
Round 2: 20-18 — Garry
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM PST
Alan Dawson
Ian Machado Garry had Belal Muhammad bleeding early, from a cut just below the eye, before a timeout was called because of rogue fingers that seemed, on replay, to have poked Muhammad on the other eye. Muhammad took more than a minute to recover, unbothered by the cut, but dabbing his right eye. He always seemed fine to continue and it was not long before fighting got back underway. Muhammad cracked Garry with a solid right hand. Garry tried a head kick. Then a front kick. Muhammad’s cut appeared to get worse through the round but landed his own strikes, clattering Garry with overhand rights. When Muhammad mistimed the distance, Garry leg-kicked him.
Round 1: 10-9 — Garry
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:57 AM PST
Alan Dawson
Garry has advantages in age, height, and reach. He even has the advantage in momentum, coming to the fight with a win over Carlos Prates, compared to Belal Muhammad, who wants to rebound following his loss to Jack Della Maddalena.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM PST
Alan Dawson
He just attracts boos wherever he goes.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:46 AM PST
Alan Dawson
Particularly as we’ve got Belal Muhammad against Ian Machado Garry in the co-main.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:42 AM PST
Alan Dawson
…UFC attracts criticism over consistency of its Fight Night-branded events, but this one has been a banger. There’s just knockout after knockout! So far, I’ve most enjoyed Oezdemir, Horiguchi, Riley, Almabayev, and Naurdiev.
And we’ve still got two fights left to go.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:40 AM PST
Alan Dawson
“I wanted to put a lot of shots. Previously I focus on one or two shots but I wanted to throw numbers. The combo could never stop, and this is what happened,” Oezdemir said, after scoring the 15th first-round finish of his MMA career.
He finished by remarking he has his eyes firmly on the belt. He wants that 205-pound strap.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:37 AM PST
Alan Dawson
Oezdemir immediately takes control of the middle of the Octagon but Menifield backs him up with his first attempt at throwing a strike. He can’t back him up moments later, though, when Oezdemir is flurrying and moving forward at the same time. Oezdemir hits him with a heavy left hand. And then a hard knee strike. And another! And that one was in the middle of a combination! Oezdemir won’t stop throwing! This is incredible! And IT’S ALL OVER! Menifield is flat on his back! He doesn’t know what hit him!
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM PST
Alan Dawson
We’re one fight away from the co-main event! What a start to the weekend this has been so far, with three finishes in a row on the main card, and two knockout artists set to scrap next in the light heavyweight division, as Alonzo Menifield takes on Volkan Oezdemir.
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:18 AM PST
Alan Dawson
Even if Hermansson had stayed conscious, he’d have still lost by stoppage. And it’s all because of where Orolbai’s right hand landed, as it bounced off the side of Hermansson’s head, on the ear, likely compromising his equilibrium. Great finish for Orolbai!
Sat, November 22, 2025 at 11:17 AM PST
Alan Dawson
Orolbai throws a looping shot over the top to welcome Hermansson to the welterweight fight. Jack has length and height advantages, and keeps Orolbai at the end of his jab. Nice knee shot, too. Hermansson moves away from Orolbai’s telegraphed power punch. Hermansson well in a groove as Orolbai swings and misses with a spinning shot. Hermansson varies his lead shot between a jab and a left hook from close range. Orolbai scores a big shot! Best punch of the round so far, despite Hermansson’s more consistent work! And there’s another! Orolbai scores a knockout against the flow of traffic!