UFC Fight Night Qatar: Can Dan Hooker Pull Off the Upset Against Arman Tsarukyan?
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In a highly anticipated lightweight bout, Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1-ranked contender, will face off against Dan Hooker on Saturday night in Qatar. The Armenian fighter has been the odds-on favorite, with a significant lead in betting money, but Hooker's recent performance has given him a glimmer of hope. Tsarukyan, 29, has been out of action since a split decision win over Charles Oliveira in April 2024 and is looking to prove himself against Hooker. The stakes are high, as the winner could potentially secure a title shot against Ilia Topuria. Hooker, 35, has been on a resurgence, following a split decision win over Mateusz Gamrot in August 2024, which propelled him to the No. 6 contender ranking. This might be his last chance to fight for his first career UFC title. The main card, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, features several exciting bouts, including: - A welterweight co-main event between Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry, with Muhammad looking to rebound from a decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena in May. - A light heavyweight matchup between Volkan Oezdemir and Alonzo Menifield, with Oezdemir seeking to bounce back from a loss to Carlos Ulberg in November 2024. - A heavyweight bout between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Shamil Gaziev, with Cortes-Acosta stepping in on short notice after Serghei Spivac withdrew due to illness. - A flyweight showdown between Tagir Ulanbekov and Kyoji Horiguchi, with Ulanbekov seeking to extend his four-fight winning streak. The outcome of the main event will be closely watched, as both fighters aim to secure a title shot in the highly competitive lightweight division.
