The UFC made its long-awaited debut in Qatar at Doha’s Ali bin Hamad Altiya Arena on November 22, featuring stacked fight cards, including two high-stakes matchups expected to determine future title contenders.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Armenia lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan will face New Zealand veteran Dan Han Hooker in the main event, while former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad faces Irish rising star Ian Machado Garry in the co-main event. The announcement came during White’s live Instagram session on Wednesday.
Impact on UFC Main Event Title
The Emperor entered the match, ranked second in the UFC Lightweight Division, following his fourth consecutive victory, including victory over Charles Oliveira and Benelle Dalish. The 28-year-old Armenian was originally scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for his lightweight title at UFC 311 in January, but retracted it a few hours before the fight due to a back injury. This set time seems to have knocked him out of the immediate title race.
Hooker will bring momentum to the contest despite his first extended layoff since his victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 in August 2024. The 35-year-old “Hangman” won three consecutive battles, following a difficult 1-4 stretch with the elite competition between 2020 and 2022.
Welterweight Shake Up
The joint main event has a great deal of significance in the welterweight title photo. Muhammad lost the championship to Jacques de Ra Maddarena due to a unanimous decision at UFC 315 in May, ending his 11-match unbeaten streak dating back to January 2019.
Garry entered the matchup, ranked sixth in the welterweight division, scoring a professional record of 16-1. The 27-year-old Irishman defeated the Carlos Award by unanimous decision in April, bounced back from his first career defeat to Shabkat Rakmonov in December 2024. The winner of this match could potentially position himself as the next challenger in the Welterweight title, which will be defended when Della Maddalena faces Islamic Makachev at UFC 322 on November 15th.
Historic Qatari debut
The November 22nd event will host Qatar’s entries, the UFC show, and the third Middle Eastern country, following the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Al Reyan’s Ali bin Hamad Altiya Arena has the capacity to a crowd of around 7,700 people. UFC president Dana White expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, saying the organization “constantly says we are going to take UFC all over the world. Qatar is our next destination.”
Timing coincides with important movements in both weight classes. Topuria recently won the Lightweight Championship after knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June to free up the featherweight title. Meanwhile, Makhachev abandoned his lightweight crown, moved up and challenged Della Madalena for the welterweight title.
The full UFC Qatar card includes several notable matchups featuring Alex Perez vs Asu Almabayev, Yanbwachowich vs Bogdangskov and heavyweight contender Sergeis Pivac vs Shamilgaziev. Both main card fighters have left the extended layoffs, and the emperor last competed in April 2024, with Hooker standing by as a hand injury since August 2024.
For the Emperor and Hooker, victory could mean a path to title competition in the lightweight division, which has undergone considerable upheaval. For Muhammad and Garry, the Stakes include a groundbreaking moment in the former champion’s potential redemption and the undefeated Irish outlook for his first title shot.