Armenia’s No. 1 Lightweight Arman Tsarukyan Defeats Dan Hooker, Sending Title Message to the UFC

Arman Tsarukyan defended his top position in the UFC lightweight division with a dominant victory over Dan Hooker of New Zealand at UFC 265 in Doha, Qatar. The Armenian fighter secured a clear win that strengthened his status as a leading contender for the championship title.

In the lightweight division (70 kg), Tsarukyan, representing Armenia and ranked No. 1, faced No. 6-ranked Hooker and won by a choke submission.

During the second minute of the second round, Tsarukyan brought Hooker to the ground, landed several consecutive strikes, and finished the fight with a choke, ending the bout decisively.

The Armenian fighter entered the octagon to the sound of Armenian zurna, greeted by a large number of Armenian fans waving the flags of Armenia and Artsakh. The support in the arena was strong, with chants of Tsarukyan’s name echoing throughout the venue. Leading Armenian wrestlers — Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan, world champion Malkhas Amoyan, and European champion Arsen Harutyunyan — were present in Doha to support him, adding to the atmosphere of national pride.

International fighters, including well-known MMA stars, were also in attendance, showing Tsarukyan’s growing recognition in the global MMA community.

Tsarukyan’s victory confirmed his position as a major title contender in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.

Arman Tsarukyan now holds 22 wins in mixed martial arts, including 9 by knockout, and has 3 losses.

Dan Hooker, 35 years old and representing New Zealand, has 24 wins and 12 losses in the UFC.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.