Keep your eyes on this Featherweight …
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is heading to Qatar for the first time this weekend (Sat., Nov. 22, 2025) for UFC Qatar, topped by a heated Lightweight showdown
between No. 1-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan and longtime fan-favorite Dan Hooker.
Check out UFC Qatar’s entire card here.
There are several up-and-coming fighters featured throughout the card this weekend, but let’s give you one to really keep your eyes on.
Without further ado …
Luke Riley — one of the best and fun to watch young prospects in the world — is finally making his long-awaited UFC debut. The 26-year-old was originally slated to appear on Contender Series opposite Kevin Vallejos, but visa issues delayed his arrival. Now, he’s taking the fast lane straight to a massive international stage.
Riley fights out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool — the gym that produced Paddy Pimblett — and has been a dominant force in Europe’s regional scene, particularly under the Cage Warriors banner, since his pro debut in October 2021.
Fighting out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool, the same gym that produced Paddy Pimblett, Riley has torn through Europe’s regional scene under the Cage Warriors banner since turning pro in late 2021. He owns a 73 percent finish rate with eight knockouts, most recently smashing Tariel Abbasov in the second round to earn his UFC contract and, before that, starched Alexandre Junior in two minutes.
So, what makes Riley so special?
Start with the striking. Riley’s elite-level boxing and knockout power have carved a path of destruction at Featherweight. His combinations are sharp, fluid, and mean, often ending with hooks or knees that leave opponents staring at the lights. In his 2022 war with Jack Eglin — considered one of the best Cage Warriors fights ever — Riley proved he can grit through adversity, bite down, and break opponents late.
His takedown defense is improving but still a vulnerability, which leads to a perfect transition for his upcoming opponent, Bogdan Grad, who is coming off a dominant win over Muhammad Naimov. He essentially out-grappled a grappler.
It very well could be a three-round war between the two, but there is a path to victory for Grad if he takes it.
However, beyond the highlights, Riley’s intangibles scream future star: an unshakeable confidence bordering on bravado, backed by a growth mindset forged in Liverpool’s gritty MMA ecosystem. Training daily with Pimblett—a submission wizard—has already sharpened his ground game, evident in his improving takedown defense and scrambling ability, while his cardio holds up in three-round wars without fading.
There is a good chance Riley is the name from the upcoming UFC Qatar card that everyone remembers going into 2026.
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