Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Arman Tsarukyan’s Next Fight Revealed; And It’s Not Ilia Topuria!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC lightweight division has become one big mess right now. Everyone wants the top spot, but only one person can sit there at a time. Fighters build winning streaks, call out champions, and wait for their phone to ring with good news. Sometimes that call comes exactly when expected. Other times, the UFC throws a curveball that nobody saw coming.

Arman Tsarukyan found himself in this exact situation recently. The Armenian fighter had worked his way up to the #1 ranking with impressive victories. Many people believed Tsarukyan deserved the next title shot against featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. After all, he sits near the top of the contender list and has been on a tear through the division. But the fight game rarely follows the script that fans and fighters write in their heads.

Arman Tsarukyan’s Reported Next Fight Changes The Lightweight Landscape

According to MMA content creator realkevink on social media, Arman Tsarukyan will face Dan Hooker at a UFC event in Qatar on November 22. This was also stated by Ali Abdelaziz in a recent interview with Submission Radio.This news was probably not what Tsarukyan was hoping for. The UFC works in mysterious ways, and fighters have learned to roll with these unexpected punches. But the bitter rivalry between them has made this matchup much more feasible.

Arman Tsarukyan Is Expected To Return At #UFCQatar in November 👊

Dan Hooker has also expressed interest in facing Tsarukyan for November

Who Wins This Matchup If Booked 🤔 pic.twitter.com/3yzaU3jfil
— Kevin (@realkevink) September 2, 2025

Hooker brings his own set of challenges to this matchup. The New Zealand veteran has been around the block. He showed he still has plenty left in the tank when he defeated Mateusz Gamrot by split decision at UFC 305 in August 2024. With a record of 24-12, Hooker knows how to make fights messy and uncomfortable for rising contenders. He won’t just lie down and let Tsarukyan walk over him toward a title shot.

The timing creates a dangerous situation for Tsarukyan, who must now treat this fight like his title hopes depend on it. His last outing was a split decision victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April 2024. He then backed out with an injury days before a title shot against Islam Makhachev. With that, he now finds himself needing another statement victory to stay in the championship conversation. With a record of 22-3, Tsarukyan has built an impressive resume that deserves recognition.

Justin Gaethje May Finally Get His Third Title Shot!

Justin Gaethje might be the biggest winner in this whole situation. With the #1 contender Tsarukyan temporarily sidelined for another fight, ‘The Highlight’ finds himself in a position for a potential title shot against Ilia Topuria. Gaethje has put in serious work for the UFC over the years, delivering exciting fights and memorable moments that fans still talk about. His record of 26-5 losses includes some of the most thrilling performances in lightweight history, including two title shots.

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Ali Abdelaziz believes Gaethje has earned his shot through pure body of work and entertainment value. The veteran, currently ranked #5 has given fans many years of entertainment. He has been patient enough, and his manager thinks the UFC owes him this opportunity. If the promotion decides to give Gaethje the title shot while Tsarukyan handles business in Qatar, it would create one of the most explosive matchups possible, with both these guys known for their creative striking and knockout power.

For fight fans, this November 22 matchup in Qatar suddenly carries more weight than anyone expected. If Tsarukyan looks impressive against Hooker, he will most likely get the next title shot. And as for Gaethje, he has hinted at retirement. If he wins the belt, he may finally retire with him capturing the lightweight gold he chased his entire career. For now, nothing is official. But if insiders and a powerful MMA manager are believed, fans are getting fights they did not think they would see that soon!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Dan Hooker

Ilia Topuria

Justin Gaethje

UFC Qatar

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!