The two UFC Qatar headliners got physical on the stage.
This week marks the first time the promotion has been in the Middle Eastern nation, with Doha hosting a number key UFC matches on November 22.
Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker headline UFC Qatar, with the winner potentially putting themselves in line to challenge for Ilia Topuria’s lightweight title in 2026.
The champion, who traveled to Doha in order to corner his younger brother, will be watching on from a distance. But Topuria has also gotten more than he bargained for as a spectator after what went down at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.
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Who will be the winner of UFC Qatar?
Arman Tsarukyan launched a headbutt after Dan Hooker ‘tried to scare’ him
While the final face-offs before a UFC event always tend to have some heated clashes, it’s rare to see anyone do what Tsarukyan did on stage in Qatar.
After ‘The Hangman’ feinted a lunge toward him, Tsarukyan suddenly headbutted Hooker, leading to matchmaker Mick Maynard and UFC security intervening to separate the two fighters.
The lightweight Armenian contender, Charly Arnolt explained his action during a backstage chat with him.
“He tried to scare me. No one can scare me,” Tsarukyan said.
“I automatically wanted to kick his ass. Now I want to make him so tired and cut his whole face, don’t finish him too early. I want his life and hard damage.
“We’re one-on-one in the cage, no one can help you there,”He also added.
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Arman Tsarukyan was already not in Dana White’s good books
Had either he or Hooker sustained a cut from the clash, Tsarukyan’s headbutt may have led to the UFC Qatar main event getting canceled. The UFC would have been furious with Tsarukyan, especially given what happened earlier this year.
Tsarukyan has withdrawn from his title match against Islam Makhachev.
2025-11-22 09:00:00
