{"id":299235,"date":"2025-11-22T08:20:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T08:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/299235\/"},"modified":"2025-11-22T08:20:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T08:20:16","slug":"tsarukyan-headbutts-hooker-during-faceoff-before-ufc-qatar-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/299235\/","title":{"rendered":"Tsarukyan headbutts Hooker during faceoff before UFC Qatar clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Brett OkamotoNov 21, 2025, 12:02 PM ET<\/p>\n

Close<\/a>Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.<\/p>\n

UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan<\/a>, who is scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Qatar<\/a>, headbutted his opponent, Dan Hooker<\/a>, during a ceremonial weigh-in Friday.<\/p>\n

Tsarukyan (22-3) headbutted Hooker (24-12) as the two were meant to face off for the final time before their five-round fight. Hooker, of New Zealand, was not injured by the blow and even seemed to enjoy the hostilities.<\/p>\n

This just got PERSONAL\ud83d\udca5@ArmanUFC<\/a> vs @DanTheHangman<\/a> <\/p>\n

[ Watch #UFCQatar<\/a> on the @ESPN<\/a> app | SAT | 1pmET ] pic.twitter.com\/oU3eDqU0Hw<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

“Let’s go, I love it,” Hooker told UFC commentator Michael Bisping<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Editor’s Picks<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n

1 Related<\/p>\n

Weigh-in altercations have become rare in the UFC. Tsarukyan, of Armenia, has a short history of outbursts, however. He was suspended and fined<\/a> by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in 2024 after he threw a punch at a fan during his walkout to the Octagon at UFC 300 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The UFC is self-regulated in Qatar, so any fine or punishment for Friday’s headbutt would have to come from the promotion itself.<\/p>\n

Tsarukyan is trying to solidify himself as a potential lightweight title challenger. He was booked to his first UFC title fight against then-champion Islam Makhachev<\/a> in January, but was forced to withdraw the day before the fight after experiencing back spasms.<\/p>\n

Tsarukyan and Hooker are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 6<\/a>, respectively, by the UFC in the lightweight division.<\/p>\n