A lightweight title shot could be up for grabs on Saturday night, as No. 1 Arman Tsarukyan meets No. 6 Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Doha, Qatar.
Tsarukyan (22–3) attempts to reclaim his path to the 155-pound belt after withdrawing from a scheduled championship bout against Islam Makhachev last January. Hooker (24–12), meanwhile, aims to continue his late-career resurgence and earn the first title opportunity of his UFC tenure.
Tsarukyan enters as a staggering -650 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Hooker sits as a +470 underdog. The total is set at 3.5 rounds. Here’s my best bet for Saturday night’s main event.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker Preview
Tsarukyan, 29, admittedly pushed himself too hard ahead of his first title shot against Makhachev, suffering a back injury that forced him to withdraw on the eve of the fight. He hasn’t fought since April 2024, when he defeated Charles Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300 — a victory that pushed his winning streak to four.
Standing 5-foot-7 with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan has won nine of 11 fights since he first stepped into the Octagon in 2019, with his only losses coming against Makhachev in his UFC debut and Mateusz Gamrot in 2022.
The Georgia-born contender is widely regarded as one of the division’s most complete fighters, blending heavy hands, elite grappling, and relentless pressure with a bottomless gas tank. He lands 3.79 significant strikes per minute at a 48% rate and boasts a 3.25 takedown average with 37% accuracy. Fourteen of his 22 career wins have come inside the distance, including nine knockouts and five submissions.
Hooker, 35, is arguably the most battle-tested fighter at 155 pounds. Since his Octagon debut in 2014, “The Hangman” has brought the fight to any opponent — highlighted by his five-round wars with Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier in 2020.
He enters Saturday’s main event amid a late-career renaissance, during which he’s won three straight fights, capped by a split decision victory over Gamrot in August 2024. A win over Tsarukyan could finally secure the longtime veteran his first career title shot.
Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, Hooker is a dangerous striker who lands 5.03 significant strikes per minute with 48% accuracy — aided by his extended range and remarkable durability. Eighteen of his 24 wins have come by finish, including 11 knockouts and seven submissions. Still, he’s not invincible, having been finished six times in his career — three by knockout and three by submission.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker Pick, Best Bet
Hooker will stay in this fight as long as it stays on the feet. “The Hangman” can lean on his range and takedown defense to force Tsarukyan into a stand-up battle.
However, Tsarukyan will do everything in his power to ensure that doesn’t happen. His pressure, wrestling, and relentless pace should allow him to close the distance and overwhelm his opponent early. It’s a game plan that’s worked against Hooker in the past, evidenced by Makhachev’s first-round submission win in 2021.
Coming off the disappointment from pulling out of a title shot on 24 hours’ notice, Tsarukyan will be looking to make a statement and get back in the UFC’s good graces. With his well-rounded skillset, he has all the necessary tools to do just that on Saturday night.
