Arman Tsarukyan ready for exciting return on November 22 in Qatar

Arman Tarunguguunta returns

Arman Tsarukyan was last seen in action at UFC 300 last year and accepts his first Octagon assignment in 584 days. This weekend he takes on favorite competitor Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar. Following a career-defining victory over former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, the Georgia native finally steps back into the spotlight as he aims to secure his second shot at the title.

Originally scheduled to compete for the 155-pound crown in January at UFC 311, “Ahalkalakets” was slated to face then-incumbent Islam Makhachev in a highly anticipated rematch after their first meeting in 2019. Set to compete in the biggest tilt of his career, Arman Tsarukyan was forced to withdraw the day before the event took place due to a surprise back injury.
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In the time since then, the 29-year-old has largely stayed on the sidelines, and the closest he came to a return to the cage was at UFC 317, where he was selected as a backup fighter for that card. Despite this long period of inactivity, Arman Tsarukyan has been putting in a lot of time on the mats, competing in a number of submission wrestling matches throughout the summer. Over three bouts from May to September, the lightweight standout defeated previous title holders such as Patricky Pitbull and Benson Henderson, submitting both men.

Dan Hooker is one of the most entertaining fighters ahead of Arman Tsarukyan Clash

Hooker is making a comeback after his own year-long layoff and is looking to extend his current three-fight winning streak to four in a row by derailing the hype train of the streaking Arman Tsarukyan. Over the past three years, “The Hangman” has re-established himself as a bona fide lightweight contender. Competing primarily on pay-per-view shows in his last few UFC appearances, the New Zealander will make his first Fight Night appearance since his co-main event clash with Arnold Allen at featherweight at UFC Fight Night 204 in 2022.

While his trip to Qatar marks his first fight inside the Octagon in quite some time, Hooker should actually fight one-time interim lightweight gold standard Justin Gaethje at UFC 313.

With likely championship implications on the line, fans were eager to see the real forwards meet in one of the division’s most anticipated contents in 2025. Unfortunately, the injury bug would find its way to Hooker after the 35-year-old accidentally hurt his hand during training.