On a historic night for the sport in the Middle East, Arman Tsarukyan walked into Doha as the top lightweight contender and left with something even clearer: the look and feel of a champion-in-waiting. In the main event of UFC Fight Night 265 at the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena, the Armenian-Russian contender tapped Dan Hooker with a tight arm-triangle choke at 3:34 of the second round, sealing a dominant win and a statement aimed straight at the title.

This was the UFC’s first-ever event in Qatar, and Tsarukyan treated it like his audition for gold. He passed with ease. The victory pushes his record to 23-3 and cements his status as the number one contender at 155 pounds. Hooker, who entered on a three-fight win streak and ranked sixth, falls to 24-13.

Qatar’s first UFC headliner delivers a clear No. 1

Everything about this fight screamed high stakes. Officially billed as a title eliminator, Tsarukyan vs. Hooker was set up to answer one question: Who’s next for the belt? From the opening horn, Tsarukyan made the answer simple. He closed distance, got his hands on Hooker, and made the Octagon feel small. When they hit the mat, it looked even smaller.

Tsarukyan dominated position and pace. He put Hooker on his back, marched to strong positions, and softened him up with ground strikes. By the time the finish came, the path had been built: pressure, control, damage, choke.

“Six minutes of control in eight minutes? That’s champion stuff.”

How Tsarukyan broke Hooker down

The numbers tell the story. Tsarukyan logged 6:02 of control time to Hooker’s 0:10. That is lopsided dominance. He also outstruck Hooker while in control, mixing short punches and elbows that forced Hooker to defend instead of escape.

In Round 2, after another takedown and steady pressure, Tsarukyan slid to side control, trapped Hooker’s arm, and tightened the arm-triangle. Once he cleared the hips and moved to the right angle, Hooker had no air and no exit. Tap at 3:34. It was clean, practiced, and inevitable.

We knew Tsarukyan could wrestle. What stood out in Doha was how calm and direct he was. No rush. No waste. Just smart steps that left Hooker with fewer and fewer choices. That is what elite contenders do under bright lights.

The stakes, the context, the meaning

This win was not built in a vacuum. Tsarukyan came into Qatar after a split decision win over former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024. That was a gritty test that raised his stock. Hooker came in with momentum of his own, riding three straight wins and a veteran’s bag of tricks. The booking made sense: No. 1 vs. No. 6, with the winner taking the fast lane to a title fight.

By finishing Hooker rather than riding a decision, Tsarukyan didn’t just protect his spot—he fortified it. The performance was the kind that makes matchmakers’ jobs easy. In a world full of close calls and debates, this was decisive.

“Hooker’s streak was real, but Tsarukyan made it look easy.”

What the numbers say about the gap

• Finish: Submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:34 of Round 2
• Control time: Tsarukyan 6:02 vs. Hooker 0:10
• Result: Tsarukyan improves to 23-3; Hooker falls to 24-13
• Setting: UFC Fight Night 265 — the UFC’s first-ever card in Qatar

These figures back up the eye test. Tsarukyan didn’t just win; he removed doubt. For a title eliminator, that matters. Fans remember the finish. The division remembers the control.

Calling out Ilia Topuria—and why it tracks

After his hand was raised, Tsarukyan called for the fight that now feels unavoidable: a title shot against champion Ilia Topuria. He said he is the only true No. 1 contender. Based on what he did in Doha, it is hard to argue.

Tsarukyan’s case rests on three pillars. First, the resume: a win over Oliveira at UFC 300 and now a dominant stoppage of a top-six opponent. Second, the style: his wrestling and top pressure travel well against any opponent. Third, the timing: with the first event in Qatar now in the books, the UFC has a fresh stage and a ready storyline.

“Topuria or bust—there’s no other No. 1 contender.”

Why this night matters beyond the belt race

UFC Qatar was more than a pin on the map. The debut in Doha carried weight, and the main event delivered a clear, high-level performance that fans in the arena—and viewers worldwide—could latch onto. When a new market gets a definitive finish from a rising star, that leaves a mark. It builds trust and buzz.

Tsarukyan embraced that moment. He didn’t point fight. He didn’t coast. He pushed for a finish in a fight that allowed no missteps, and he got it. For a headliner meant to launch a market, that is exactly the outcome the UFC hopes for.

What’s next

All signs point toward a title shot next for Tsarukyan. He is ranked number one, he just beat a top-six opponent by submission, and he has momentum coming off UFC 300. The callout to Topuria adds fuel. The rest of the lightweight field will argue their cases, but Saturday’s tape favors one man.

For Hooker, this loss stings, but it came against the division’s leading contender. He has shown before that he can rebuild. His three-fight run into this bout proves he can adjust and return in meaningful matchups.

Final word

In Doha, Arman Tsarukyan didn’t just win; he declared what comes next. He outclassed a tough, surging veteran with pressure, patience, and a suffocating ground game. He finished the job with a tight arm-triangle. He walked out as the clear number one at lightweight and put his claim on the belt on blast.

Qatar’s first UFC event needed a signature moment. Tsarukyan gave it one—and he may have given the division its next title fight, too.