Next title challenger? Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:34 of Round 2 at UFC Qatar on Saturday. Impact Tsarukyan entered this fight as a betting favorite of as much as (-900), and he certainly looked the part with a clinical effort. He logged a takedown and 3:16 worth of control time in the opening frame while also winning the significant striking battle 19-to-5. Round 2 saw him eat a notable right hook, but he shook it off and went for a takedown that Hooker had little hope of defending. Tsarukyan softened his opponent up with a few elbows before passing into three-quarter mount and eventually finding the fight-ending choke. He would go on to win a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus here, but more importantly is what's next. Tsarukyan likely has the best case for the next shot at lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, but it remains to be seen if the UFC will book that fight, or go with the more marketable Paddy Pimblett in early-2026.
NOVEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE