After more than a year away, Arman Tsarukyan returned to the Octagon and confirmed he remains a top lightweight contender. He finished Dan Hooker in the second round at UFC Qatar, sparking calls for a showdown with Ilia Topuria.
Tsarukyan Controls Both Stand-Up and Ground
Early in the fight, Tsarukyan nearly took Hooker down but engaged in a striking battle instead. Hooker attempted a takedown and a choke, but Tsarukyan gained top control and controlled the remainder of the round from side control.
Submission Victory in Round Two
Hooker tried a guillotine choke in the second round, but Tsarukyan countered and moved into guard. He established a dominant top position, landed strong ground-and-pound strikes, and finished the fight with a tight arm-triangle choke.
A Winning Streak Continues
Tsarukyan now has five consecutive wins and ten victories in eleven fights since losing his UFC debut to current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. This was his first fight after beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. He had been scheduled to challenge Makhachev at UFC 311 but withdrew due to a back injury while cutting weight.
Hooker’s Streak Comes to an End
Dan Hooker saw his three-fight win streak end with this loss. This was his first fight since defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.
