Lead: At UFC Fight Night in Al Rayyan on Saturday, Arman Tsarukyan (23-3) stamped his name into lightweight title conversation by submitting Dan Hooker (24-13) in the second round. The event at the Ali Bin Hamed al-Attiyah Arena also featured Ian Machado Garry earning a unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad and Kyoji Horiguchi returning with a third-round submission of Tagir Ulanbekov. Several first-round knockouts and highlight finishes underlined a night of decisive results that reshaped contender rankings.
Key takeaways
- Arman Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker by arm-triangle submission in round two and publicly called out lightweight champion Ilia Topuria after the win.
- Ian Machado Garry beat Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), improving to 17-1 and making an aggressive case for a shot at Islam Makhachev’s new 170-pound title.
- Kyoji Horiguchi returned to the UFC and submitted No. 11 Tagir Ulanbekov with a rear-naked choke in the third round, pressing for flyweight contention.
- Volkan Oezdemir, Myktybek Orolbai and Waldo Cortes-Acosta delivered first-round knockouts, continuing a pattern of finishes that night on the main card.
- Prelim results included Luke Riley’s second-round KO of Bogdan Grad, Asu Almabayev’s late standing guillotine on Alex Perez, and Ismail Naurdiev’s first-round KO of Bekzat Almakhan.
- Main card finish times and several scorecards were decisive; the card mixed stoppages (multiple KOs/submissions) with a high-profile decision in the co-main.
Background
The UFC’s return to Qatar came amid growing international expansion for the promotion and rising interest in new European and Asia-Pacific contenders. Arman Tsarukyan entered the card as one of the lightweight division’s most complete fighters, with a 23-3 record that blends wrestling, grappling and explosive striking. Dan Hooker, a seasoned veteran at 24-13, is known for his striking output and durability, which set expectations for a competitive main event.
Ian Machado Garry’s matchup with Belal Muhammad carried ranking implications at welterweight, following Muhammad’s previous run toward title contention and Garry’s unbeaten streak since joining the UFC’s top tier. Kyoji Horiguchi’s appearance marked a notable cross-promotion return to the Octagon after dominant stints in other major organizations, inviting questions about where he fits among the elite at 125 pounds. The card paired veteran names with emerging prospects, giving the promotion an opportunity to reset pecking orders heading into 2026.
Main event
Tsarukyan controlled large portions of the fight through power, positional wrestling and finishing instincts. Early in round one Hooker switched stances and attempted to keep distance with kicks and counters, but Tsarukyan’s pressure and timing began to dictate the pace. By the second round the Armenian contender secured dominant top position and transitioned to full mount, where his physicality and technique cut off Hooker’s escape routes.
From mount Tsarukyan isolated an arm-triangle and tightened his hold until Hooker tapped, producing a decisive stoppage in round two. After the win Tsarukyan addressed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in the arena, insisting he was the rightful No. 1 contender. The finish underscored Tsarukyan’s ability to end fights both standing and on the ground, strengthening a resume that many observers now view as among the division’s most threatening to the titleholder.
Co-main action saw Ian Machado Garry grind out a three-round unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad. Garry used range, jabs and timely power shots to build rounds while weathering moments from Muhammad, including a second-round exchange that briefly threatened the Irishman’s momentum. Judges awarded Garry the victory 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, after which he made a public appeal for a run at the welterweight crown.
Kyoji Horiguchi closed his comeback sequence with a third-round rear-naked choke on Tagir Ulanbekov, demonstrating control in late-race grappling and a clear ability to carry his prior success into UFC competition. Several other main-card bouts ended early via strikes, with Oezdemir, Orolbai and Cortes-Acosta each scoring first-round KOs that punctuated a night heavy on finishes.
Analysis & implications
Tsarukyan’s submission win altered the lightweight landscape. His victory over a durable veteran like Hooker highlights an upward trajectory that combines athleticism, wrestling control and submission finishes. If the UFC follows typical booking logic, Tsarukyan should be in line for another high-profile bout — potentially a title eliminator or direct shot at Ilia Topuria depending on the champion’s schedule and any mandatory obligations.
Garry’s unanimous decision provides him with a narrative of consistency and resilience rather than explosive finishes; defeating a former title challenger like Belal Muhammad on the judges’ cards strengthens his promotional case for a title shot. Garry’s post-fight demand for a matchup with Islam Makhachev or other top welterweights frames him as an active voice in matchmaking conversations, increasing pressure on the promotion to test him against elite opposition.
Horiguchi’s successful return matters for flyweight depth. Submitting a ranked opponent in the third round validates his status as a contender and opens possibilities for matchups against current top-five fighters. For the organization, his presence creates new stylistic matchups at 125 pounds and offers marketable international appeal given his history in other major promotions.
Collectively, the array of finishes and decisive outcomes accelerates flagging or rising fighters’ momentum heading into end-of-year planning. The UFC’s matchmaking choices in response will shape contender lists across multiple divisions and influence title timelines in lightweight, welterweight and flyweight categories.
Comparison & data
| Fight | Result | Method | Round / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker | Tsarukyan def. Hooker | Submission (arm-triangle) | R2 — see note |
| Ian Machado Garry vs. Belal Muhammad | Garry def. Muhammad | Unanimous decision | 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 |
| Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield | Oezdemir def. Menifield | KO (punches) | R1 — 1:27 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov | Horiguchi def. Ulanbekov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R3 — 2:18 |
The table summarizes the main-card outcomes and methods. Multiple first-round stoppages continued a season-long pattern of early finishes for certain fighters, while the Garry decision was one of the clearest judges’ scores on the card. Note that an entry below lists a timing discrepancy addressed in the Unconfirmed section.
Reactions & quotes
Tsarukyan immediately used the post-fight mic to target the division’s champion, framing the victory as a title claim:
If you’re here, Ilia, come on. There is just one No. 1-contender, and his name is Arman Tsarukyan.
Arman Tsarukyan
Horiguchi reflected on his return and made his ambitions clear while acknowledging his pleasure at rejoining the UFC ranks:
I feel very good right now because I come back to UFC. Of course, I want a UFC belt. Where is Alexandre Pantoja?
Kyoji Horiguchi
Garry, after his win, framed the result as a mandate for a title opportunity and called for a match with the current champion at welterweight:
I’m the best and you have a duty to defend that belt against the best in the world. I’m taking that throne from you. You’re done!
Ian Machado Garry
Unconfirmed
- Conflicting timestamps for the Tsarukyan-Hooker stoppage appear in source reports (one note lists 2:34 of round two while another lists 3:34). The exact official time should be confirmed via the UFC’s official result sheet.
- A timing entry for Volkan Oezdemir’s KO was listed as “1:127” in one live log; the standard format would be 1:27 of round one — the official time should be checked.
- Tsarukyan’s claim to be the “No. 1 contender” is a fighter statement and not yet an official designation from promotion matchmakers or rankings committees.
Bottom line
UFC Qatar produced several definitive outcomes that will influence matchmaking in the coming months. Arman Tsarukyan’s dominant submission of a veteran like Dan Hooker elevates his profile as a legitimate title threat at lightweight, while Ian Garry’s unanimous decision and Kyoji Horiguchi’s successful return create additional contender pressure at welterweight and flyweight, respectively.
The promotion now faces scheduling choices: which winners receive immediate title shots and which are funneled through further high-profile bouts. Fans should expect the UFC to capitalize on these clear statements by the fighters — booking test matches that either quicken title timelines or further separate genuine contenders from the field.