UFC Qatar Main Event Set: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Headlines, Muhammad vs. Garry Co-Main

UFC CEO Dana White has locked in two blockbuster fights for the promotion’s debut in Qatar this November. Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will square off against fan favorite Dan Hooker in the main event, while former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad meets rising star Ian Machado Garry in the co-main slot. Both bouts carry high stakes, with divisional title implications on the line.

Tsarukyan Returns With Gold on His Mind

For Tsarukyan, this is about reclaiming lost momentum. Earlier this year, he was lined up to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight crown at UFC 311, but a last-minute injury forced him out of the title fight. Since then, the soon-to-be 29-year-old has been biding his time, even serving as backup at UFC 317 before Ilia Topuria’s stunning knockout of Charles Oliveira. With Qatar now circled on his calendar, Tsarukyan is determined to make a statement and push his case for a title shot in 2026.

Hooker Seeks Big-Moment Redemption

Across the Octagon, Dan “The Hangman” Hooker is also making his 2025 debut. The New Zealander had been slated to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, but injury scratched that matchup. Despite limited activity in recent years, Hooker has quietly built a three-fight win streak with victories over Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot. Known for his grit and action-packed style, Hooker sees Qatar as the perfect platform to vault himself back into the crowded 155-pound title mix.

Muhammad Eyes Redemption, Garry Chasing Greatness

In the co-main, Belal Muhammad enters with plenty to prove after dropping his welterweight belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 316. Prior to that setback, Muhammad had rattled off an 11-fight unbeaten streak stretching back to 2019. At 37, he’s hungrier than ever to reclaim gold and knows a win here could put him back in the title conversation.

His opponent, Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry, has redemption on his own mind. After suffering his first professional loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov late in 2024, Garry bounced back with a decision win over Carlos Prates earlier this year. Still just 27, “The Future” has a chance to live up to his nickname if he can topple the battle-tested Muhammad.

UFC Expands in the Middle East

The November 23 card will mark the UFC’s first-ever event in Qatar and the fourth in the Middle East this year, hosted at the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena. With two marquee matchups at the top of the bill, UFC Qatar is shaping up to be one of the promotion’s most intriguing international showcases of 2025.

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This is a card designed with global impact in mind. Tsarukyan vs. Hooker has “fight of the night” written all over it—both men are aggressive, hungry, and understand the stakes in a division where Makhachev, Topuria, and others dominate the headlines. If Tsarukyan wins, his title claim becomes undeniable. If Hooker pulls off the upset, the lightweight hierarchy could be shaken.

As for the co-main, Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry is more than just a bounce-back fight for both—it’s a generational clash. Muhammad represents persistence and proven championship pedigree; Garry brings youthful energy and marketability. The outcome could directly shape the welterweight title landscape heading into 2026.

UFC Qatar isn’t just another fight night—it’s a statement card for the promotion’s continued global expansion. The Middle East has become a reliable proving ground for high-stakes fights, and this event feels like another step toward cementing UFC as a truly worldwide brand.