UFC Makes Historic Qatar Debut as Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Main Event Sparks Headbutt Scandal

• oleh Fahri Setiawan
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The UFC Fight Night 265 is set to explode onto the global stage this Saturday, November 22, 2025, with a main event that’s equal parts championship stakes and chaos — Arman Tsarukyan versus Dan Hooker — in the first-ever UFC Fight Night 265 held in Qatar. The bout, taking place at the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, isn’t just a milestone for the UFC’s global expansion. It’s a redemption arc for Tsarukyan, who’s fighting to claw his way back into title contention after a stunning withdrawal from a January 2025 championship fight against Islam Makhachev. But the road to this moment took a bizarre, almost cinematic turn — when Tsarukyan headbutted Hooker during Friday’s weigh-in staredown, nearly derailing the entire card.

Headbutt Heard Around the Middle East

It was supposed to be a routine media moment: fighters face off, cameras flash, matchmaker Mick Maynard stands between them. Instead, Tsarukyan lunged — not toward the camera, but over Maynard’s arm — and cracked Hooker square in the head with a sharp, unexpected headbutt. The crowd gasped. Cameras froze. Hooker staggered back, hand instinctively going to his temple. No blood. No cuts. No visible damage. But the damage to the moment? Massive.

"Both men appeared to be fine," CBS Sports reported, but the Qatar Mixed Martial Arts Committee was already reviewing footage. Headbutts are illegal in MMA. A single one can mean point deductions, fines, or even fight cancellations. The fact that this happened on the eve of UFC’s historic debut in Qatar — a country with zero tolerance for public disorder — made it a potential PR disaster. Yet, the committee let the fight stand. Why? Because both fighters made weight cleanly (Tsarukyan at 156 lbs, Hooker at 155 lbs), and neither showed signs of injury. The message? Performance matters more than drama — unless it escalates.

Tsarukyan’s Road Back From the Edge

For Tsarukyan, this isn’t just another fight. It’s his lifeline. After going 9-1 in his last 10 bouts, he was poised to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title in January — until a back injury forced him out on 24 hours’ notice. UFC CEO Dana White didn’t mince words: "He’s got to earn it again." That meant beating a dangerous, high-volume striker like Hooker — someone who’s won three straight and brings a dangerous, unorthodox style.

Stats tell the story: Tsarukyan lands 3.79 significant strikes per minute with 58.96% accuracy. He’s a takedown machine (3.25 per 15 minutes, 37% success rate). But he’s never finished anyone by submission in his UFC career. Hooker? He’s a volume beast — 5.03 strikes per minute, 55.67% accuracy. He doesn’t need to takedown. He just needs to keep moving, keep firing, and catch Tsarukyan with a counter.

Oddsmakers see it differently. Tsarukyan is a massive -750 favorite. Hooker? +475. The betting public believes Tsarukyan’s pedigree and power will overwhelm Hooker’s speed. But here’s the twist: Hooker has beaten higher-ranked opponents before. He beat Kevin Lee by knockout in 2021. He survived a brutal war with Charles Oliveira in 2023. He doesn’t fear the favorite. He thrives in the chaos.

The Card That Almost Wasn’t

The main event wasn’t the only drama. The entire card has been reshuffled like a deck of cards in a storm. Originally, Serghei Spivac was supposed to fight Shamil Gaziev — a bout moved from UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales, then shifted again to UFC 316. But Gaziev broke his finger. Spivac then pulled out for unknown reasons. Enter Waldo Cortes-Acosta, the former LFA Heavyweight Champion, stepping in on short notice.

The flyweight bout between Kyoji Horiguchi and Tagir Ulanbekov was also nearly scrapped. It was originally slated for June 2025 at UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr., but Horiguchi withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Now, it’s back — and it’s a dream matchup. Horiguchi, the ex-Bellator and RIZIN champion, is 34-5. Ulanbekov, 17-2, is a rising Russian grappler with a terrifying ground game. This fight could be the sleeper of the night.

And then there’s the co-main: Belal Muhammad versus Ian Machado Garry. Two former champions in their prime. Muhammad, the former welterweight king, is looking to reclaim his throne. Garry, the Irish phenom, is 11-0 in his pro career and unbeaten in the UFC. This isn’t just a ranking fight — it’s a title eliminator in all but name.

Why Qatar Matters

Qatar isn’t just another stop on the UFC’s world tour. It’s the third Middle Eastern nation to host a UFC event — after the UAE and Saudi Arabia — but the first to do so without a major political scandal or human rights controversy overshadowing the fight. The country has invested billions into sports infrastructure, and this event is a statement: we’re here to stay.

And the timing? Perfect. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Qatar is positioning itself as the global hub for elite combat sports. UFC’s arrival here isn’t just business — it’s cultural diplomacy. The arena? State-of-the-art. The security? Tighter than a gi. The fans? Eager. The world’s watching.

What’s Next for Tsarukyan?

If Tsarukyan wins, he doesn’t just get another title shot — he gets a direct path. White said beating Hooker would "complete his journey" back to the top. A loss? He’s back to square one. And with rising stars like Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria already in the mix, time is running out.

But here’s the quiet truth: Tsarukyan’s biggest opponent might not be Hooker. It’s his own reputation. The headbutt. The 2023 throat-grab on Bobby Green. The fan punch at UFC 300 that got him suspended. He’s talented. He’s dangerous. But is he trustworthy? The UFC doesn’t just want champions. It wants ambassadors.

On Saturday, he gets his chance to prove he’s more than a fighter.