UFC's first event in Qatar features a lightweight fight with Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker stepping into the Octagon on Saturday night seeking to position themselves for a title shot against Ilia Topuria.
It's the first fight for both in 2025, and the stakes are extremely high.
Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is the No. 1-ranked contender and odds-on favorite at -625 by BetMGM. The Armenian fighter was scheduled for a title shot at UFC 311 in January against then-champion Islam Makhachev but was forced
to pull out due to back spasms.
Tsarukyan has not fought since. Although the 29-year-old did weigh in successfully as the backup fighter at UFC 317, this will be his first fight since a split decision win over Charles Oliveira in April 2024.
"It's so important to go there and to show I'm on a different level (and) dominate," Tsarukyan told UFC.com. "I've been working for this a long time ... I just want to see where my skills (are) right now, and I know I can go there and knock (him out)."
Hooker (24-12, 14-8) is coming off his own injury after a split decision win over Mateusz Gamrot in August 2024 helped thrust the 35-year-old back up the contender rankings at No. 6 by the UFC. This might prove to be Hooker's final opportunity to fight for his first career UFC title.
The New Zealander has been backed by 65% of the bets as the +450 underdog, but Tsarukyan has draw 89% of the fight money since opening at -375.
The main card is scheduled to being at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.
OTHER MAIN CARD FIGHTS
BELAL MUHAMMAD (24-4, 15-4) vs. IAN MACHADO GARRY (16-1, 9-1): Welterweight
The co-main event sees the former champ Muhammad seeking to rebound from a decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena in May. The 37-year-old may be starting to show his age a bit but did go the distance with Della Maddalena. Nine years his opponent's junior, Ireland's Garry rebounded from his lone loss to date against Shavkat Rakhmonov by scoring a unanimous win over Carlos Prates in April.
VOLKAN OEZDEMIR (20-8) vs. ALONZO MENIFIELD (17-5-1): Light Heavyweight
Oezdemir is 3-3 over his past six fights, with his most recent trip inside the Octagon being a loss to Carlos Ulberg in November 2024. Meanwhile, Menifield has followed consecutive losses with decision wins over Julius Walker and Oumar Sy.
Oezdemir has held steady as the -235 favorite, while Menifield has been backed by 63% of the bets and 64% of the money as the +190 underdog.
WALDO CORTES ACOSTA (15-2) vs. SHAMIL GAZIEV (14-1): Heavyweight
Cortes-Acosta, the No. 6-ranked heavyweight contender, stepped in on short notice after top-ranked heavyweight Serghei Spivac withdrew due to illness on Thursday. Cortes-Acosta won by first-round knockout of Ante Delija just three weeks ago during which he fought through an eye poke.
Despite the quick turnaround while overcoming an injury and traveling to Qatar, Cortes-Acosta is the -155 favorite. Gaziev, who has gone 3-1 since joining the UFC, has been backed by 67% of the fight money at +125. He is coming off wins over Don'Tale Mayes and Thomas Petersen, but this is his biggest test to date.
TAGIR ULANBEKOV (17-2) vs. KYOJI HORIGUCHI (34-5): Flyweight
Ulanbekov has scored unanimous decision victories over Azat Maksum and Clayton Carpenter during his four-fight winning streak. Horiguchi also enters with consecutive wins over Nkazimulo Zulu and Sergio Pettis as he returns to the Octagon.
Ulanbekov has shifted from -175 to -200 while being supported by 90% of the fight money. That has come courtesy of some bigger wagers, as Horiguchi has been backed by 59% of the total bets at +165.
--Field Level Media
