When Arman Tsarukyan joined the UFC in 2019, Kiwi lightweight Dan Hooker had established himself as a star on the rise.
Cracking the top 15 with the world’s top mixed martial arts promotion with four wins from his last five fights - all inside the distance - Hooker was amongthe more exciting athletes on the roster.
Now, six years on, the pair will square off in the main event of the first UFC card in Qatar this Sunday, with the winner expected to establish themselves as the next contender for the division’s throne.
Hooker goes into Sunday’s bout ranked at No 6 in the division, while Armenia’s Tsarukyan is the No 1 contender.
“He was always on the top, but he’s never been a contender, so this is his chance to be a contender.”
Arman Tsarukyan (left) and Dan Hooker will square off in the main event at UFC Qatar this weekend. Photo / Getty Images
As the pair prepare for the meeting this weekend, there are some similarities in their pathways to Doha. Neither athlete has appeared in the octagon in more than a year – Tsarukyan’s layoff in part due to a back injury; Hooker’s a broken hand – and neither has lost since 2022.
While Hooker is looking to jump the queue, for Tsarukyan, a win will solidify his place as next in line after he forfeited his first title shot in January. The 29-year-old was due to challenge then champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 but pulled out a day before the event due to his back injury.
It was a situation that didn’t go down too well with UFC boss Dana White, who later said Tsarukyan would have to win another fight before being considered for a title shot.
He did weigh in as the back-up when Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira contested the vacant title in June after Makhachev relinquished the belt to move up a division, but was ultimately not required.
“It’s been a good process,” Tsarukyan reflected.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t fight for the title, but still, I got a lot of experience from the pull-out, I got a lot of experience [from being] back-up, and now I’m fighting this weekend and I’m so excited.
“It was a hard year, but you know, I’m used to it. When you work hard, it pays off.”
Heading into this weekend’s contest, Tsarukyan and Hooker have their clear advantages; the Kiwi with his striking and the Armenian with his grappling.
That said, they are both well-drilled across the board and Tsarukyan indicated he wouldn’t shy away from trying to match Hooker on the feet if that was how the fight played out.
“He’s a good fighter. He’s dangerous on the feet, but on the ground, I think my game is way better,” Tsarukyan said.
“I think I’m more powerful on the striking; my hands, my legs – I kick harder, I punch harder. Maybe my technique is not that good, but on the feet, if I punch him, I can knock him out.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
