Arman Tsarukyan walked into UFC Qatar with a long layoff behind him and left the arena sounding like a man convinced he is the rightful challenger for Ilia Topuria. The lightweight contender controlled Dan Hooker from the opening moments and secured an arm triangle that ended their meeting in the second round.
Hooker entered the bout expecting a hard clash and tried to test Tsarukyan early. The fight began with Tsarukyan mixing clean strikes with a quick pace. A failed takedown from him actually turned into a key moment when Hooker moved to escape and Tsarukyan answered with a rising knee that rocked the New Zealander. He pushed forward with fast punches that landed clearly before Hooker managed to regain his balance and tie him up against the fence.
Hooker briefly jumped on a guillotine in round one but Tsarukyan slipped out and took top control, shifting into elbows and positional pressure while testing different submission setups. That sequence set the tone for how the second round would go.
Second Round Control and the Finish
When Hooker tried the same guillotine again at the start of round two, the result was the same. Tsarukyan easily passed into a dominant position and began breaking him down with strikes from above. Hooker absorbed punches and elbows while trying to defend as Tsarukyan advanced into mount.
Once he created enough space, Tsarukyan slid into an arm triangle and locked it tightly. The grip only grew stronger and Hooker eventually tapped at 3:34 of the second round.
Arman calls his shot!! pic.twitter.com/dDvQWkSzpI
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) November 22, 2025
Working so hard for this moment 👏
[ #UFCQatar | @ArmanUFC ] pic.twitter.com/Vcsyrjgj17
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2025
Tsarukyan Issues Challenge to the Champion
Speaking after the win, Tsarukyan made his priorities clear.
“Feeling great. Thank Dan because of him, I fought this year,” he said. “Only guy who wanted to fight me. Ilia, if you’re here, come on. There is just one contender No. 1. It’s Arman Tsarukyan. Everybody knows I’ve got to fight for the title. I’m ready. End of January, send me contract, I’ll be there.”
He continued expressing why he believes he is next for gold.
“Nobody can stop me in the cage. I’m the best in the world and I’m going to be a champion. I work so hard, so smart, I dedicate all my life for this sport and it pays off this day.”
This victory pushes his streak to five straight wins and adds another ranked name to his list. He had earlier lost a title shot opportunity due to injury but his showing in Qatar reflected no sign of lost momentum.
Ilia Topuria has been linked to a possible first defense against Paddy Pimblett in early 2026. If that matchup does not take place, Tsarukyan strengthened his case by beating Hooker with one of his cleanest performances to date.
Whether the division settles the title picture soon or stretches the waiting period, Tsarukyan has presented a clear argument for why he should be considered the next contender. He walked out of Qatar looking like a serious threat to Topuria’s reign and is prepared to step in whenever the opportunity is offered.
