UFC Fight Night 265: Tsarukyan vs Hooker | November 22, 2025 | ABHA Arena, Doha, Qatar
Complete UFC Qatar fight card results, Arman Tsarukyan's arm-triangle choke finish, Ian Machado Garry's upset victory, four straight first-round knockouts, all 14 fights analyzed with winner interviews and $50,000 bonus awards
Table of Contents
UFC Qatar Fight Night 265 Overview: Historic Middle East Debut Delivers Finishes
The UFC made history on Saturday with its inaugural event in Qatar, and the fighters delivered spectacular action at ABHA Arena in Doha. In the main event, Arman Tsarukyan made an emphatic statement for a title shot by submitting Dan Hooker with an arm-triangle choke in Round 2, immediately calling out featherweight champion Ilia Topuria who was in attendance.
The UFC Qatar co-main event provided one of the night's biggest stories as Ian Machado Garry upset former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision, positioning himself as a top contender in the 170-pound division. The main card featured an incredible streak of four consecutive first-round knockouts, energizing the Qatari crowd and showcasing the UFC's global knockout power.
Key UFC Qatar Statistics:
- Location: ABHA Arena (Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena), Doha, Qatar
- Historic Significance: UFC's first-ever event in Qatar
- Finishes: 8 of 14 fights ended inside the distance
- First-Round Knockouts: 4 consecutive on main card
- Clean Weigh-Ins: All fighters made weight successfully
- Notable Attendance: Ilia Topuria present, cornering his brother Aleksandre
UFC Qatar Main Card Results
Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker — Lightweight (5 Rounds)
Winner: Arman Tsarukyan (Armenia/Georgia) def. Dan Hooker (New Zealand) via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) — Round 2, 3:34
Arman Tsarukyan delivered a championship-caliber performance, dominating and submitting veteran Dan Hooker to stake his claim as the #1 contender for the UFC lightweight championship. The Armenian-born fighter improved to 23-3 with his fifth consecutive victory.
How Tsarukyan Finished Hooker:
From the opening bell, Tsarukyan showcased elite-level mixed martial arts. He landed superior strikes in the standup exchanges while negating Hooker's attempts to keep distance. When Hooker attempted guillotine chokes to prevent takedowns, Tsarukyan calmly defended and passed to dominant positions.
Round 1 saw Tsarukyan damage Hooker significantly with ground-and-pound, opening severe swelling around "The Hangman's" eye. The accumulating damage left Hooker's corner unable to reduce the swelling between rounds.
In Round 2, Tsarukyan continued his dominance. After taking Hooker down with ease at 0:34, Tsarukyan transitioned to full mount and rained down strikes. When Hooker gave up his back to escape, Tsarukyan smoothly shifted to an arm-triangle choke. The squeeze was immedi ate and devastating—Hooker tapped at 3:34.
Post-Fight Callout:
With UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria seated cageside after cornering his brother earlier in the evening, Tsarukyan issued a direct challenge: "If you're here, Ilia, come on. There is just one No. 1 contender—me."
Topuria has expressed interest in moving up to lightweight, setting up a potential super-fight between two of the sport's most dominant grapplers.
Key Stats:
- Tsarukyan improved to 23-3 overall, 14-3 UFC
- Fifth consecutive victory since April 2024
- Hooker fell to 24-13 overall
- Performance of the Night: $50,000 bonus
What's Next: Tsarukyan appears to be the clear #1 contender for either Topuria (if he moves up) or current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (who recently moved to welterweight). The dominant performance erased any doubts from his last-minute withdrawal from a title fight at UFC 311.
Co-Main Event: Ian Machado Garry vs Belal Muhammad — Welterweight
Winner: Ian Machado Garry (Ireland) def. Belal Muhammad (USA) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
In the UFC Qatar co-main event upset, undefeated Irish welterweight Ian Machado Garry handed former champion Belal Muhammad his second consecutive loss with a dominant unanimous decision victory. The performance established Garry as a legitimate threat in the welterweight division.
Fight Breakdown:
Garry (17-1) neutralized Muhammad's wrestling-heavy game plan from the opening bell. The Irish striker stuffed takedown attempts and controlled the center of the Octagon, landing the cleaner, more impactful strikes throughout the 15-minute contest.
Muhammad (24-5, 1 NC) struggled to implement his typical pressure wrestling that carried him to the welterweight title. Garry's length, movement, and takedown defense proved problematic, leaving the former champion frustrated and unable to establish offensive rhythm.
All three judges scored the bout decisively for Garry, with two seeing a dominant 30-27 performance.
Post-Fight Incident:
Following the bout, undefeated welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev shoved Garry during a backstage confrontation. The incident drew immediate attention as a potential future matchup between the two elite welterweights.
Key Stats:
- Garry improved to 17-1 overall, extending his UFC record to 10-1
- Muhammad fell to 24-5, 1 NC, suffering back-to-back losses after losing the title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315
What's Next: Garry's victory positions him for a top-5 welterweight matchup, potentially against Chimaev or other elite contenders chasing the title.
Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield — Light Heavyweight
Winner: Volkan Oezdemir (Switzerland) def. Alonzo Menifield (USA) via KO (Punches) — Round 1, 1:27
Swiss light heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir delivered a spectacular first-round knockout of Alonzo Menifield, kicking off an incredible run of four consecutive opening-round finishes on the main card.
Lightning-Quick Finish:
Oezdemir (21-8) wasted no time, immediately pressuring Menifield and landing heavy strikes. At 1:27 of Round 1, the veteran connected with a combination of punches that sent the Los Angeles native crashing to the canvas, prompting referee intervention.
The performance marked an important bounce-back for Oezdemir after recent inconsistency, and positions him for continued relevance in the light heavyweight top 15.
Key Stats:
- Oezdemir improved to 21-8 overall
- Menifield fell to 17-6-1
Myktybek Orolbai vs Jack Hermansson — Welterweight
Winner: Myktybek Orolbai (Kyrgyzstan) def. Jack Hermansson (Sweden) via KO (Punch) — Round 1, 2:46
In one of the night's most shocking upsets, Myktybek Orolbai knocked out former middleweight contender Jack Hermansson with a devastating right hand, marking the second consecutive first-round knockout on the main card.
Dramatic Finish:
Fighting at welterweight (Hermansson is a natural middleweight), Orolbai (15-2-1) stayed patient before uncorking a perfectly timed right hand that sent Hermansson crashing unconscious to the canvas at 2:46.
The knockout represented a massive upset and continued Hermansson's concerning slide. The 37-year-old Swedish veteran has now lost his last four fights, all by finish.
Key Stats:
- Orolbai improved to 15-2-1 overall
- Second consecutive UFC victory
- Hermansson fell to 24-10, losing four straight
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Shamil Gaziev — Heavyweight
Winner: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (Dominican Republic) def. Shamil Gaziev (Russia) via KO (Right Hand) — Round 1, 1:22
In a short-notice replacement bout, heavyweight contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta delivered a devastating right-hand knockout of Shamil Gaziev, continuing the main card's explosive first-round knockout streak.
Short-Notice Heroics:
Cortes-Acosta stepped in on short notice (replacing Serghei Spivac) and looked fresh and powerful. At 1:22 of Round 1, he connected with a thunderous right hand that ended Gaziev's night instantly.
Key Stats:
- Cortes-Acosta improved to 16-2 overall
- Performance of the Night: $50,000 bonus
- Gaziev fell to 14-2
Rising Contender: The victory marked Cortes-Acosta's ninth win in his last 10 fights and positions him as a legitimate threat in the heavyweight top 15.
Kyoji Horiguchi vs Tagir Ulanbekov — Flyweight
Winner: Kyoji Horiguchi (Japan) def. Tagir Ulanbekov (Russia) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) — Round 3, 2:18
Japanese MMA legend Kyoji Horiguchi delivered a vintage performance, submitting Tagir Ulanbekov with a rear-naked choke in the third round to close out the main card on a high note.
Tactical Victory:
Horiguchi (35-5, 1 NC) showcased the elite grappling that made him a former Rizin and Bellator champion. After a competitive opening two rounds, the 34-year-old secured a takedown in Round 3 and smoothly transitioned to back control before locking in the fight-ending rear-naked choke.
Key Stats:
- Horiguchi improved to 35-5, 1 NC overall
- Performance of the Night: $50,000 bonus
- Second consecutive UFC victory in his return to the promotion
- Ulanbekov fell to 17-3
UFC Qatar Preliminary Card Results
Luke Riley vs Bogdan Grad — Featherweight (Featured Prelim)
Winner: Luke Riley (USA) def. Bogdan Grad (Moldova) via KO (Left Hook and Punches) — Round 2, 0:30
Undefeated featherweight prospect Luke Riley maintained his perfect record with a spectacular second-round knockout of Bogdan Grad. Riley (12-0) connected with a devastating left hook just 30 seconds into Round 2, dropping Grad before following with ground strikes to secure the stoppage.
Key Stats:
- Riley improved to 12-0 overall
- Performance of the Night: $50,000 bonus
- Grad fell to 15-4
Nicolas Dalby vs Saygid Izagakhmaev — Welterweight
Winner: Nicolas Dalby (Denmark) def. Saygid Izagakhmaev (Russia) via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Danish welterweight veteran Nicolas Dalby edged Russian contender Saygid Izagakhmaev in a closely contested split decision. The 40-year-old Dalby showed he remains competitive despite his veteran status.
Key Stats:
- Split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) for Dalby
- Dalby improved to 24-6-1, 2 NC
- Izagakhmaev fell to 22-3
Asu Almabayev vs Alex Perez — Flyweight
Winner: Asu Almabayev (Kazakhstan) def. Alex Perez (USA) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) — Round 3, 0:22
In a chaotic flyweight clash, Kazakhstani flyweight Asu Almabayev secured a dramatic third-round guillotine choke finish of former title challenger Alex Perez just 22 seconds into the final frame.
Dramatic Finish:
After competitive first two rounds, Almabayev (23-3) exploded in Round 3, securing the guillotine choke almost immediately and forcing Perez to tap within seconds.
Key Stats:
- Almabayev improved to 23-3 overall
- Perez fell to 25-10
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Raffael Cerqueira — Light Heavyweight
Winner: Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev (Russia) def. Raffael Cerqueira (Brazil) via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) — Round 1, 0:33
In the fastest finish of UFC Qatar, undefeated light heavyweight Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev opened with a spinning-hook kick, followed up with a left head kick that landed and dropped Raffael Cerqueira for a moment, then fired off a few punches and latched onto the neck, submitting Cerqueira with a rear-naked choke in just 33 seconds. Likened to Yakhyaev's 30 second fight in his Contender outing, he fought like he was double-parked, wasting no time in securing a finish and announcing his arrival to the division.
Record-Setting Pace:
Yakhyaev (8-0) wasted zero time, immediately taking Cerqueira down and transitioning to back control before sinking in the fight-ending choke.
Key Stats:
- Yakhyaev improved to 8-0 overall
- Fastest finish of UFC Qatar (33 seconds)
- Cerqueira fell to 11-4
Aleksandre Topuria vs Bekzat Almakhan — Bantamweight
Winner: Aleksandre Topuria (Georgia) def. Bekzat Almakhan (Kazakhstan) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
In a tremendous matchup, Aleksandre Topuria, brother of UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, earned a unanimous decision victory over Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Qatar with Ilia in his corner. The level of competition on both sides was incredibly high and drew eyeballs to the fight, as the bantamweight prospects are both highly anticipated and highly regarded by UFC fans. Topuria was dominating for two rounds. Almakhan's corner asked for more feints and combinations coming into the 3rd round, but Topuria continued to apply pressure throughout the fight and walked bloody-nosed Almakhan down right to the final bell.
Family Affair:
Ilia Topuria cornered his younger brother and watched from cageside, later staying to witness Arman Tsarukyan's callout in the main event.
Key Stats:
- Aleksandre improved to 7-1 overall
- Unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Almakhan fell to 12-3
Ismail Naurdiev vs Ryan Loder — Welterweight
Winner: Ismail Naurdiev (Austria) def. Ryan Loder (Australia) via KO (Right Hook) — Round 1, 1:26
Austrian welterweight Ismail Naurdiev had clearly been working on sharpening his kickboxing tools, delivering a quick knockout of Ryan Loder with a clean right hook in the opening round. Loder dropped his hands enough for Naurdiev to find an opening and land his fist into the jaw of Ryan Loder, finishing the fight.
Key Stats:
- Naurdiev improved to 25-8 overall
- Loder fell to 8-3
Nurullo Aliev vs Shaqueme Rock — Lightweight
Winner: Nurullo Aliev (Tajikistan) def. Shaqueme Rock (Liverpool, England) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Undefeated Tajikistani lightweight Nurullo Aliev showed his standup game dominating Shaqueme Rock across three rounds. Rock showed some great technique and had his moments, for a moment, but couldn't quite find his groove and ultimately received a tough welcome and a shutout unanimous decision in his UFC debut. Shaqueme Rock is an exciting new addition to the roster and ignited the crowd with Nurullo Aliev bringing his lightning-quick reflexes and making an exciting match up to the delight of the fans at UFC Qatar.
Perfect Debut:
Aliev (11-0) controlled all aspects of the fight, earning identical 30-27 scorecards from all three judges.
Key Stats:
- Aliev improved to 11-0 overall
- Successful UFC debut
- Rock fell to 12-2-1
Denzel Freeman vs Marek Bujlo — Heavyweight (Early Prelim)
Winner: Denzel Freeman (USA) def. Marek Bujlo (Poland) via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Heavyweight newcomers Denzel Freeman and Marek Bujlo opened UFC Qatar with a cautious affair that saw Freeman emerge victorious via unanimous decision in both fighters' UFC debuts. Freeman sounded off with kiais but they were mainly on the back of feints. The commentators likened the fight to a "light sparring match". The night wasn't off to a quick start, but the night was just getting started.
Nervous Debuts:
Both fighters showed typical Octagon jitters, trading from distance with low output. Freeman's left hand proved to be the difference, landing with more authority throughout.
Key Stats:
- Freeman improved to 7-1 overall
- Bujlo fell to 6-1 in his UFC debut
- First bout at UFC's historic Qatar debut
UFC Qatar Bonuses: $200,000 Distributed
| Bonus Type | Winner(s) | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of the Night | Arman Tsarukyan | $50,000 |
| Performance of the Night | Waldo Cortes-Acosta | $50,000 |
| Performance of the Night | Kyoji Horiguchi | $50,000 |
| Performance of the Night | Luke Riley | $50,000 |
Notable: No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded, with all four bonuses going to Performance of the Night recipients for spectacular finishes.
UFC Qatar Weight Misses and Weigh-In Results
Clean Weigh-Ins - All Fighters Made Weight
All 28 fighters on the UFC Qatar card successfully made their contracted weights at Friday's official weigh-ins, marking a professional showing for the promotion's historic debut in the Middle East.
Notable Weigh-Ins:
- Arman Tsarukyan: 156 lbs (1 lb under lightweight limit)
- Dan Hooker: 155.5 lbs
- Ian Machado Garry: 170 lbs
- Belal Muhammad: 171 lbs (1 lb over allowed with no title fight)
- Denzel Freeman: 260 lbs
- Marek Bujlo: 256.5 lbs
UFC Qatar Ceremonial Weigh-In Incident
Tsarukyan Headbutts Hooker During Face-Off
At Thursday's ceremonial weigh-ins, a heated moment occurred when Arman Tsarukyan headbutted Dan Hooker during their face-off. The intentional headbutt drew immediate criticism and raised tensions heading into fight night.
Despite the incident, both fighters made weight professionally and the bout proceeded as scheduled. The bad blood added extra drama to an already high-stakes main event.
UFC Qatar Key Takeaways
1. Arman Tsarukyan is the Clear #1 Contender
Tsarukyan's dominant submission victory over Hooker erased any lingering doubts from his UFC 311 withdrawal. His callout of Ilia Topuria sets up a fascinating stylistic matchup if "El Matador" moves up to lightweight.
2. Ian Machado Garry Announced His Arrival
The Irish striker's upset of former champion Belal Muhammad proved he belongs among the welterweight elite. His takedown defense and striking prowess make him a problem for anyone at 170 pounds.
3. Four Straight First-Round Knockouts Electrified Qatar
The UFC Qatar main card's incredible streak of opening-round finishes (Oezdemir, Orolbai, Cortes-Acosta, and technically Horiguchi later) showcased the UFC's global knockout power and entertained the Doha crowd.
4. Jack Hermansson's Slide Continues
The 37-year-old Swedish veteran has now lost four consecutive fights, all by finish. Serious questions arise about his future in the sport.
5. Historic Qatar Debut Delivered
The UFC's first event in Qatar exceeded expectations with spectacular finishes, high-stakes fights, and a main event that delivered championship-level action.
Complete UFC Qatar Results Summary
| Fight | Winner | Method | Round/Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsarukyan vs Hooker | Arman Tsarukyan | Sub (arm-triangle choke) | R2, 3:34 |
| Garry vs Muhammad | Ian Machado Garry | UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 rounds |
| Oezdemir vs Menifield | Volkan Oezdemir | KO (punches) | R1, 1:27 |
| Orolbai vs Hermansson | Myktybek Orolbai | KO (punch) | R1, 2:46 |
| Cortes-Acosta vs Gaziev | Waldo Cortes-Acosta | KO (right hand) | R1, 1:22 |
| Horiguchi vs Ulanbekov | Kyoji Horiguchi | Sub (RNC) | R3, 2:18 |
| Riley vs Grad | Luke Riley | KO (left hook, punches) | R2, 0:30 |
| Dalby vs Izagakhmaev | Nicolas Dalby | SD (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) | 3 rounds |
| Almabayev vs Perez | Asu Almabayev | Sub (guillotine choke) | R3, 0:22 |
| Yakhyaev vs Cerqueira | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | Sub (RNC) | R1, 0:33 |
| A. Topuria vs Almakhan | Aleksandre Topuria | UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) | 3 rounds |
| Naurdiev vs Loder | Ismail Naurdiev | KO (right hook) | R1, 1:26 |
| Aliev vs Rock | Nurullo Aliev | UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) | 3 rounds |
| Freeman vs Bujlo | Denzel Freeman | UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 rounds |
Frequently Asked Questions About UFC Qatar
When did UFC Qatar take place?
UFC Qatar Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker took place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar—the UFC's first-ever event in the country.
How did Arman Tsarukyan beat Dan Hooker?
Arman Tsarukyan submitted Dan Hooker with an arm-triangle choke at 3:34 of Round 2 after dominating with ground-and-pound throughout the fight.
Did Ian Machado Garry upset Belal Muhammad?
Yes, Ian Machado Garry defeated former champion Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in a major upset.
Who missed weight at UFC Qatar?
No fighters missed weight at UFC Qatar. All 28 competitors successfully made their contracted weights.
What happened between Khamzat Chimaev and Ian Machado Garry?
After Garry's victory over Muhammad, Khamzat Chimaev shoved Garry during a backstage confrontation, setting up a potential future matchup.
Did Ilia Topuria attend UFC Qatar?
Yes, UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria attended UFC Qatar to corner his brother Aleksandre Topuria. Arman Tsarukyan called him out after the main event.
How many first-round knockouts were at UFC Qatar?
The main card featured four consecutive first-round knockouts: Oezdemir, Orolbai, and Cortes-Acosta all finished their opponents in Round 1.
Who won bonuses at UFC Qatar?
Four Performance of the Night bonuses ($50,000 each) were awarded to: Arman Tsarukyan, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Kyoji Horiguchi, and Luke Riley.
UFC Qatar's Place in History
UFC Qatar Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker marked a historic milestone as the promotion's first event in Qatar, expanding its Middle East presence beyond Abu Dhabi. The card delivered on every promise, with Arman Tsarukyan cementing his status as the lightweight division's top contender and Ian Machado Garry announcing his arrival as a welterweight elite.
The main card's run of four consecutive first-round finishes created instant highlights and showcased the global depth of UFC talent. Veteran legends like Kyoji Horiguchi proved they still have championship-level skills, while rising prospects like Luke Riley announced their arrival with spectacular knockouts.
UFC Qatar exceeded expectations as the promotion's historic debut in Doha delivered spectacular finishes, high-stakes victories, and championship-caliber performances. Arman Tsarukyan's dominant submission of Dan Hooker, Ian Machado Garry's upset of Belal Muhammad, and four straight opening-round knockouts made for an unforgettable night in the Middle East.
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- UFC Fight Night 263 Garcia vs Onama
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