TLDR
- Arman Tsarukyan defeated Dan Hooker by second-round arm-triangle choke at UFC Qatar, extending his win streak to five fights
- Tsarukyan called out lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and stated he’s ready to fight in late January 2026
- Islam Makhachev endorsed Tsarukyan’s title shot claim, saying he deserves the opportunity after his dominant performance
- Topuria and Tsarukyan exchanged heated words on social media, with Topuria referencing a past altercation in Doha
- UFC may consider Paddy Pimblett for a title shot due to his history with Topuria, despite Tsarukyan’s higher ranking
Arman Tsarukyan Demands Title Shot After Dominant UFC Qatar Victory
Arman Tsarukyan secured a second-round submission victory over Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar last Saturday. The Armenian fighter used an arm-triangle choke to finish Hooker and extend his winning streak to five consecutive fights.
The victory earned Tsarukyan a Performance of the Night bonus. He now stands as the clear number one contender in the lightweight division.
Following his win, Tsarukyan called out lightweight champion Ilia Topuria during his octagon interview with Michael Bisping. He told the crowd he wants to fight for the title next and would be ready by the end of January 2026.
Tsarukyan believes Topuria has not faced an elite wrestler yet. He plans to use his wrestling skills and relentless pace to challenge the champion.
“In my mind, I can strike with him in the long distance but when he wants to try to box me and throw his hard punch, I’m going to shoot and take him down,” Tsarukyan said after the fight. He added that he believes he can beat Topuria easily.
Islam Makhachev, the former lightweight champion, voiced his support for Tsarukyan’s title shot. Makhachev praised the Armenian’s dominant performance against Hooker.
“I thought he would win, but didn’t expect it to be in such a dominant manner,” Makhachev said. He stated that Tsarukyan deserved a title shot and should fight for the belt next.
Makhachev also referenced Tsarukyan’s role as backup fighter at UFC 317. Tsarukyan made weight for that event when Topuria fought Charles Oliveira.
Potential Matchup Plans
The UFC may have different plans for the title fight. Paddy Pimblett, ranked number five, has a long-standing feud with Topuria that dates back several years.
Their rivalry began with online comments by Pimblett about Topuria’s countrymen. The two had a physical altercation at a fighter hotel in London during UFC Fight Night 204 in March 2022.
Tsarukyan dismissed the possibility of Pimblett getting a title shot. He questioned how Pimblett reached the top five ranking after beating lower-ranked opponents.
“How you can beat like a No. 12, or No. 13 and became No. 5?” Tsarukyan said on The Ariel Helwani Show. He pointed out that he needed five or six wins to crack the top 15.
Tsarukyan called Pimblett’s ranking fake. He said everyone would laugh at the UFC if they gave Pimblett the title fight instead.
Social Media Exchange
After UFC Qatar, Tsarukyan and Topuria exchanged heated words on social media. Tsarukyan wrote that Hooker had bigger courage than the division champion for taking the fight.
Topuria responded by saying Tsarukyan freezes up when they meet in person. The champion referenced an incident in Doha where he grabbed Tsarukyan’s collar during a conversation.
“You know I handle you however I want,” Topuria wrote. He called Tsarukyan a kid and said he was several levels below him.
Topuria secured the vacant lightweight title by stopping Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June. He has not faced a wrestler of Tsarukyan’s caliber during his UFC career.
Tsarukyan said he plans to create viral videos to promote the potential fight. He understands that MMA is a media sport and fighters need to be good showmen.
The Armenian fighter stated his strategy would focus on mixing wrestling with striking. He wants to shoot for takedowns when Topuria tries to land hard punches.
