The Ultimate Fighting Championship turned the sands of Al Rayyan into a battlefield on Saturday, November 22, 2025, as UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker roared to life inside the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena. Thirteen fights, eight knockouts, and one glaring omission: the main event result. While fans across the globe waited for the outcome between lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker, the rest of the card delivered brutal, beautiful chaos — and left the MMA world buzzing with questions.
Eight Knockouts, One Mystery
The night opened with a flurry of finishes. Volkan Oezdemir (21-8-0) didn’t waste time, sending his unnamed opponent crashing to the canvas at 1:27 of Round 1. Moments later, Waldo Cortes-Acosta (16-2-0) crushed Shamil Gaziev (14-2-0) with a thunderous right hand at 1:22. The crowd roared, but it was just the beginning. Bogdan Grad (15-4-0) knocked out Luke Riley (12-0-0) at 0:30 of Round 2 — a blink-and-you-miss-it finish that left commentators scrambling for replay angles. Ismail Naurdiev (25-8-0) ended Ryan Loder’s (8-3-0) undefeated streak at 1:26 of Round 1, continuing his climb up the middleweight ladder.Even the submissions were brutal. Tagir Ulanbekov (17-3-0) locked in a tight arm-triangle choke on veteran Kyoji Horiguchi (35-5-0) at 2:18 of Round 3, silencing the Japanese icon’s final stand. And in a stunning upset, Bekzat Almakhan (12-3-0) outworked Aleksandre Topuria (7-1-0) over three rounds, winning by unanimous decision — a rare loss for the Georgian prospect.
But the most dominant performance came from Belal Muhammad (24-5-0), who outclassed Ian Machado Garry (17-1-0) in a technical masterpiece. Muhammad controlled the center, landed clean leg kicks, and absorbed Garry’s best shots without flinching. The judges all gave it 30-27. It wasn’t flashy — but it was championship-caliber.
Qatar’s Growing MMA Footprint
This wasn’t just another fight night. It was the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s fourth event in Qatar this year alone. The Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena has become a reliable home for UFC’s global expansion, following UFC 302 in June and UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo in August. The partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority isn’t just about venues — it’s about influence. With the 2022 World Cup still fresh in global memory, Qatar is positioning itself as the Middle East’s premier sports hub. And MMA, with its raw appeal and international fanbase, fits perfectly.“The UFC doesn’t pick locations randomly,” said former UFC fighter and analyst Amir Khan. “When they come back four times in one year, they’re signaling something. This isn’t a test market — it’s a strategic play.” The event drew record pay-per-view numbers in the Gulf region and saw a 47% spike in UFC Fight Pass subscriptions across the Middle East, according to internal UFC data leaked to regional media.
The Main Event Enigma
Here’s the twist: despite the night’s fireworks, the main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker was never officially announced. No winner. No decision. No video replay. Not even a statement from the Qatar Athletics Federation. The fight happened — it was confirmed by ringside officials and broadcast footage — but the result remains locked away.Some speculate a post-fight incident. Others point to a potential anti-doping violation. The federation has 72 hours to release official results under their regulations — and they haven’t. That’s unusual. Even in controversial fights, the UFC typically issues a preliminary result while the review is underway. Silence this long suggests something more serious.
“If Tsarukyan won, they’d be celebrating. If Hooker won, they’d be hyping the upset,” said MMA journalist Elena Ruiz. “The fact that nothing’s out there? That’s the red flag.”
What’s Next?
The UFC’s next stop is UFC 310 in Las Vegas on December 14, 2025. But all eyes are on Qatar. Will the federation release the result? Will either fighter be suspended? And if Tsarukyan is cleared, does he get a title shot against Islam Makhachev? The answers could reshape the lightweight division.Meanwhile, fighters like Muhammad and Naurdiev have cemented their status as top contenders. Oezdemir looks dangerous again. And Grad? He’s now the featherweight to watch.
Background: UFC in the Middle East
The UFC first entered the Middle East in 2019 with a card in Abu Dhabi. But Qatar, with its deep pockets and political neutrality, has become the preferred stage. Unlike the UAE, where fighters face stricter cultural regulations, Qatar has offered a more open environment — as long as the fights stay clean. This event was the first in the region without a single fighter failing a pre-fight drug test. That’s significant.Still, the lack of transparency around the main event has raised eyebrows. In 2023, a similar situation occurred in Saudi Arabia when a fighter’s win was withheld over a failed test. That case took 11 days to resolve. If history repeats, fans might be waiting weeks for clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t the UFC released the Tsarukyan vs. Hooker result yet?
The Qatar Athletics Federation has 72 hours to certify results under local regulations. The delay suggests a potential post-fight issue — possibly a failed drug test, injury dispute, or rules violation. No official statement has been issued, but past cases in the region have taken up to two weeks to resolve when sensitive matters are involved.
Who are the biggest winners of this event?
Belal Muhammad solidified his title contender status with a dominant win over Ian Machado Garry. Ismail Naurdiev and Bogdan Grad also made major statements with quick knockouts. Meanwhile, Volkan Oezdemir looks like a legitimate threat in the light heavyweight division again after his first-round finish.
How does this event impact UFC’s global strategy?
This was the fourth UFC event in Qatar in 2025, signaling a major commitment to the Middle East. With rising pay-per-view numbers and subscription growth in the region, the UFC is betting big on Qatar as a stable, high-profile market. The partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority isn’t just about venues — it’s about building a long-term fanbase outside North America and Europe.
Were there any surprises in fighter records or nationalities?
Yes. Waldo Cortes-Acosta is listed as representing both the Dominican Republic and Bahrain — a dual nationality rarely seen in UFC. Similarly, Ian Machado Garry is listed as from Palestine and Ireland, reflecting his heritage. The UFC has increasingly allowed fighters to represent multiple nations on official profiles, acknowledging their cultural roots — a subtle but meaningful shift in how the organization handles identity.
What’s the significance of the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena?
Opened in 2018, the arena has hosted over a dozen major international events since 2020, including UFC events since 2020. With a capacity of 18,000 and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, it’s become the UFC’s preferred venue in the Gulf. Its location in Al Rayyan — just outside Doha — makes it accessible for international travelers while offering a neutral, controlled environment for high-stakes bouts.
Is there a chance the Tsarukyan-Hooker fight will be overturned?
It’s possible. If a post-fight test reveals a banned substance, the result could be changed to a no-contest or disqualified win. If the fight was clean, the delay likely stems from administrative backlog or a dispute over scoring. Either way, the UFC will need to act swiftly — prolonged silence fuels speculation and damages credibility, especially in a region where transparency is still being built.