Overview
- Tsarukyan defeated Hooker by arm-triangle choke at 3:34 of Round 2 to cap UFC’s debut event at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar.
- Post-fight, he called out lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and said he is ready to fight in January if offered the bout.
- The matchup was billed as a title eliminator, positioning the winner to challenge Topuria in a crowded 155-pound race.
- At the ceremonial weigh-ins, Tsarukyan headbutted Hooker and was separated by officials, with potential disciplinary follow-up not announced during event coverage.
- The victory comes after Tsarukyan withdrew from a planned title fight with Islam Makhachev earlier this year, prompting UFC leadership to insist he re-earn a shot.