The UFC will break new ground with the event, which will take place on Saturday, November 22, at the ABHA Arena in Doha, and White officially announced the main and co-main event bouts for that show.
Headlining the card is a huge fight for the UFC lightweight division as contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker go head-to-head at 155 pounds, and in the co-main event, Belal Muhammad will take on Ian Machado Garry in a battle of welterweight contenders.
In case you missed it 👊
We’re bringing THRILLING fights to #UFCQatar!@ArmanUFC vs @DanTheHangman@Bullyb170 vs @IanGarryMMA
🇶🇦🎟️ Get tickets FRIDAY! pic.twitter.com/mmcNMdcw7G
— UFC (@ufc) October 2, 2025
Tsarukyan is currently listed second in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings, and is looking to score the win that could put him back in line for a shot at the undisputed lightweight title.
The Armenian contender reeled off four successive wins from December 2022 to April 2024, defeating Damir Ismagulov, Joaquim Silva, Beneil Dariush and former champion Charles Oliveira to put himself in line for a title shot.
But after being booked to challenge then-champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw from the fight, citing a back injury, on weigh-in day, and his title chance disappeared as a result.
Tsarukyan then appeared at UFC 317 for the lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Oliveira, where he successfully made weight as the backup fighter, and now he’s set to face Hooker, he’s looking to score an impressive victory to earn himself a second chance at a title fight.
But against Hooker, he’s facing one of the lightweight division’s most dangerous fighters. The Kiwi contender has fought a who’s who of the featherweight and lightweight divisions during his 10-year run in the UFC, and “The Hangman” heads into the main event in Doha riding a three-fight win streak.
Victories over Claudio Puelles, Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot have him in form, and sitting sixth in the official UFC lightweight rankings. A win over Tsarukyan could see Hooker gatecrash the lightweight title picture and put him in the mix for a possible shot in 2026.
Also confirmed for the event is a pivotal clash in the welterweight division, as former undisputed 170-pound champion Muhammad takes on Irish contender Machado Garry.
Muhammad is looking to bounce back after losing the title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Prior to that defeat, “Remember The Name” had amassed a six-fight win streak that included wins over Demian Maia, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady and Gilbert Burns, before dethroning Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in July 2024.
But his championship reign was cut short in his very first defence as he was defeated by Australia’s Della Maddalena at UFC 315, and now Muhammad is looking to re-establish his championship credentials with victory over one of the most talented contenders in the division.
Machado Garry has looked every inch a championship contender over the course of the last 18 months. Victories over Geoff Neal, Michael “Venom” Page and Carlos Prates proved his readiness for the top, while his decision defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov may have put the first mark in his loss column, his performance in that bout elevated his stock, rather than damaged it.
Now the Irishman, who trains in Brazil as part of the Chute Boxe team, is ready to make a statement by defeating the recently-dethroned champion to put himself at the top of the contenders list in a busy-looking 170-pound division.
