It’s a tough fight, but there is a good reason why Dan Hooker decided to take a fight against Arman Tsarukyan.
Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) takes on No. 1 lightweight contender Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 265 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar. Hooker has a tough hill to climb. He’s coming off over a year layoff and stepping in against whom many consider to be the toughest fight at lightweight outside of the champion Ilia Topuria.
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So why put himself in that position and risk ending a three-fight wining streak? Simple. Hooker believes he’ll get the next shot at the belt with a win on Saturday.
“Dana (White) has come out and said it’s a No. 1 contender fight,” Hooker told MMA Junkie. “Yeah, he’s the No. 1 contender and needs a win in the division, and that’s why I chased this fight and I asked for this fight. I nagged the UFC to give me this fight because I knew that no one between myself and Arman Tsarukyan would want to fight Arman Tsarukyan, so I have a good excuse to avoid him. He did pull out of that fight with a bad back. The champion and the bigger names guys like (Justin) Gatheje, they have a good excuse not to fight him. I believe it’s because he is the most skillful fighter in the division, but these other guys there have a good reason to not fighting. I knew with a win over Arman Tsarukyan, I get to jump the queue. I get to jump from outside the top five to No. 1 contender of the division. Exciting times, for sure.”
Hooker last fought in August 2024 when he defeated Mateusz Gamrot in a split decision at UFC 305 in Australia. Prior to that, he picked up wins over Jalin Turner and Claudio Puelles.
“That’s the beautiful thing about it, is there’s no real ground lost,” Hooker said regarding his standing. “I’ve been sitting out for a year, but coming off a win over No. 5 and then to get a shot at the now No. 1 contender in the division, it’s a bit of practice of patience, if anything.”
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As far as the fight itself, Hooker knows what’s in store for him. He expects Tsarukyan to wrestle him and avoid striking with him at all costs.
“It’s no real secret: he’s grabbing a hold of me on the d*ck, brother,” Hooker said. “I think there’s no real secret about where our strengths lie. I feel like if we’re standing at long range or even mid-range in striking, I think I tear him apart. He’ll be looking to close the distance and not engage with me in there on the feet, and just be looking to get some control time, and kind of drain the clock down. That’s what he’ll be eyeing.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Qatar: Dan Hooker expects title shot with win over Arman Tsarukyan
