Arman Tsarukyan, Dan Hooker, Belal Muhammad, and Ian Machado Garry all look to get back in the title picture when they compete at UFC Qatar.
UFC CEO Dana White announced Wednesday that Tsarukyan (22-3) is set for the lightweight main event on Nov. 22 opposite Dan Hooker (24-12), while former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (24-4, 1 NC) fights Ian Machado Garry (16-1) in the co-main event.
Tsarukyan is currently No. 2 at 155 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, while Hooker stands at No. 7. At welterweight, Muhammad holds the No. 2 spot with Garry a few places behind at No. 6.
UFC Qatar marks Tsarukyan’s first octagon appearance since pulling out of a lightweight title bout against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 in January. Tsarukyan put together an 8-1 stretch to earn a chance to beat the man who handed him a loss in his UFC debut, but withdrew from the contest less than 48 hours before fight night due to a back injury.
Hooker returns to action for the first time since UFC 305 in August 2024. At that event in Perth, Australia, Hooker scored a split decision win over Mateusz Gamrot that put him back in the title conversation, but he’s been unable to capitalize on that result due to persistent hand injuries keeping him on the sidelines.
The co-main event has significant welterweight title implications, with Muhammad having dropped the belt to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 this past May, and Garry recently bouncing back from his first loss by defeating Carlos Prates to improve his UFC record to 9-1.
UFC Qatar takes place at Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Nov. 22.
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