Tsarukyan Submits Hooker, Garry Tops Muhammad at UFC Qatar

In Doha, Qatar, on Saturday night, Arman Tsarukyan solidified his status as a top lightweight contender with a second-round submission victory over Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Qatar, while Ian Machado Garry positioned himself for a welterweight title shot by defeating former champion Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision in the co-main event.

Tsarukyan, ranked No. 1 in the lightweight division, controlled the fight with his grappling prowess, forcing Hooker to tap out via rear-naked choke at 3:45 of the second round. The 28-year-old Armenian extended his winning streak to five, tying for the second-longest active streak in the division. In his post-fight interview, Tsarukyan immediately called out lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, referencing the champion's earlier comments about vacating the title for a superfight. Tsarukyan expressed confidence in his matchup, stating during the press conference, "I can strike with Topuria in the long distance but when he wants to try to box me and throw his hard punch, I'm going to shoot and take him down. I believe in myself and I know I can beat him so easy as well."

Topuria responded sharply on social media, posting a video of a...