Bad Blood Boils Over at UFC Qatar Weigh-In
Tensions reached a breaking point ahead of the first-ever UFC event in Qatar, as lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker were involved in a physical altercation during the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday 21 November 2025. The customary face-off turned violent when Tsarukyan lunged forward and headbutted his opponent, forcing security and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard to hastily separate the two fighters.
Confrontation and Composure
Immediately after stepping onto the scales, the two fighters came together for the staredown. In a flash, Tsarukyan propelled his skull into Hooker's forehead. Rather than retaliating and escalating the situation into a full-scale brawl, the New Zealander, a fan favourite known as "Hangman," laughed off the cheap shot. Hooker briefly left the stage but soon returned to deliver his final pre-fight message.
"Let's go," Hooker said, clearly unfazed. "I love it. Bring it on."
When it was his turn to speak, Tsarukyan, sporting a visible red mark on his forehead, addressed the crowd through a microphone held by British UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. The Armenian fighter made his intentions clear, stating, "I'm going to show a great knockout. I'm going to get my title next."
A Week of Tensions and Career Stakes
The physical clash was the culmination of a fight week filled with animosity. The two fighters represent polar-opposite personalities, and Hooker had previously justified his disdain for the 29-year-old Tsarukyan by branding him a "mouthy rich little p****". Hooker had even threatened to throw a punch before the fight, risking the cancellation of the bout, if his opponent came too close during the build-up.
Both men successfully made weight for their headline bout on a stacked card in Qatar. The event also features a potential number-one contender's bout in the welterweight division between former champion Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry.
For Tsarukyan, this fight marks his return after a 19-month absence. His last outing was a split-decision victory over Charles Oliviera, and he was forced to pull out of a planned lightweight title fight with champion Islam Makhachev at the last minute in January.
Conversely, the 35-year-old Hooker is in the midst of a career resurgence. He is riding a wave of momentum with consecutive wins over Claudio Puelles, Jalin Turner, and Mateusz Gamrot, and a victory in Qatar could put him firmly in line for a shot at the title.
