UFC Qatar: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker: Main Card, Prelims, and the Best Odds for Every Fight!

For the first time ever, the UFC lands in Qatar for UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker this Saturday (22nd). The Middle Eastern nation becomes the 31st country to host the competition, and you can be part of it all with sports betting.

The main event features Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker, with Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry clashing in the co-main event. The main card also includes four additional fights, plus eight more on the prelims.

Due to the time zone difference, UFC Qatar will take place in the afternoon for Brazilian fans. The preliminary card starts at 12 p.m. (Brasília time), with the main card scheduled for 3 p.m. Before the fighters step into the octagon, check out this special Blaze guide to the MMA event!

Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker

“A great moment.” That’s how the UFC itself describes the current phase of Saturday’s two headliners. Arman Tsarukyan — an Armenian born in Georgia — is the current No. 1 lightweight in the world. New Zealander Dan Hooker holds the No. 6 spot.

Tsarukyan suffered an injury in 2024 that took him out of his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311. This weekend’s bout marks his return to the octagon.

Hooker is also coming off a major comeback, but in a different way. The New Zealander lost four out of five fights between 2020 and 2022. He managed to regain his best form and now looks to extend his current streak.

On one side, the Armenian promises an explosive style with an intense, aggressive, but disciplined pace. On the other, the experienced Kiwi will bring his trademarks: strong striking and durability.

Fighters’ Records

Arman Tsarukyan arrives in Qatar riding a four-fight winning streak. In total, he has nine wins in his last ten bouts. His professional record features 25 fights, with 22 wins and only three losses.

Across the octagon, the New Zealander is one of the most experienced names on the card, with 36 fights. He is currently enjoying a three-fight winning streak. Hooker’s record shows 24 wins and 12 losses.

Who Will Win UFC Qatar?

Arman Tsarukyan is the clear favorite. The Armenian has 1.16 odds to win the fight. Despite the numerical gap, the octagon will be on fire, and Dan Hooker will do everything he can to defy his 4.7 odds.

Bet on Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker on Blaze!

Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry

The welterweight division is represented in the co-main event of UFC Qatar 2025. Palestinian Belal Muhammad faces Irishman Ian Machado Garry. Muhammad is a former welterweight champion and is trying to climb back to the top of the rankings, where he is now in 2nd place.

Machado Garry, in turn, sits at No. 6 and is looking to finally break into the top 5, aiming for his first title shot. Inside the octagon, fans can expect constant pressure from the Palestinian, with strong control and intensity, while the Irishman — trained in boxing — brings clean, fast, and precise striking.

Fighters’ Records

Belal Muhammad’s last fight was in May, when he lost the belt to Australian Jack Della Maddalena. Before that, he was riding a 10-fight winning streak. Overall, the Palestinian’s MMA record includes 29 fights, with 24 wins, four losses, and one draw.

Ian Machado Garry is considered one of the welterweight division’s rising stars, living a decisive moment in his career. He has 17 MMA fights, with an impressive 16 wins and only one loss. Inside the UFC alone, he has nine wins in ten fights, three of them by knockout.

Who Wins the Co-Main Event at UFC Qatar?

Despite being the former division champion, Belal Muhammad will need to fight for the spotlight in this matchup. The odds favor the Irishman Machado Garry at 1.33. Muhammad sits at 3.1, which certainly doesn’t rule him out of the contest.

Bet on Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry on Blaze!

Main Card

In addition to the main event and co-main event of this Ultimate Fighting Championship, the main card features four more bouts. Check out the details of each one below!

Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield

Swiss fighter Volkan Oezdemir, ranked No. 9, faces American Alonzo Menifield, ranked No. 14, in a light heavyweight bout. Oezdemir has odds of 1.42, against 2.7 for Menifield.

Bet on Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield on Blaze!

Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai

In the welterweight division, the matchup is between Swedish-Norwegian Jack Hermansson and Myktybek Orolbai from Kyrgyzstan. The odds indicate a slight favoritism for Orolbai at 1.37, but Hermansson is close behind at 2.9.

Bet on Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai on Blaze!

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Shamil Gaziev

Originally scheduled to be a bout between Shamil Gaziev of Bahrain and Serghei Spivac of Moldova in another Fight Night, the fight was postponed due to a finger fracture suffered by the Moldovan. However, without revealing the reason, Spivac later withdrew from UFC Qatar.

Dominican fighter Waldo Cortes-Acosta was called in and will compete in this heavyweight bout against Gaziev. The Caribbean athlete is the favorite with odds of 1.58, but the Russian-Bahraini fighter is close behind with 2.28.

Bet on Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Shamil Gaziev on Blaze!

Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Kyoji Horiguchi

In the flyweight division of the main card, Russian Tagir Ulanbekov faces Japanese fighter Kyoji Horiguchi. Their odds are also close, leaning slightly toward the Russian at 1.47, compared to 2.55 for the Japanese athlete.

Bet on Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Kyoji Horiguchi on Blaze!

UFC Qatar Prelims

Before the main card, UFC Qatar will feature eight preliminary bouts. Austria’s Bogdan Grad and England’s Luke Riley face off in the featherweight division, while Denmark’s Nicolas Dalby meets Russia’s Saygid Izagakhmaev at welterweight.

The fight between Alex Perez (USA) and Kazakhstan’s Asu Almabayev is valid for the flyweight division. Turkish fighter Abdul Rakhman Yakhwaev faces Brazilian Rafael Cerqueira at light heavyweight.

Kazakhstan and Georgia clash when Bekzat Almakhan and Aleksandre Topuria step into the octagon for a bantamweight fight. In the middleweight division, Moroccan Ismail Naurdiev meets American Ryan Loder.

The lightweight prelim features Nurullo Aliev from Tajikistan against England’s Shem Rock. Meanwhile, Poland’s Marek Bujlo faces American Denzel Freeman in a heavyweight matchup.

Where to Watch UFC Qatar

Brazilian fans can follow UFC Qatar 2025 starting at noon (Brasília time) on Saturday (22). The first three fights will be streamed for free and live on UFC Fight Pass, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. The rest of the broadcast will be exclusive to the promotion’s streaming platform, UFC Fight Pass.

Bet on UFC Qatar: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker on Blaze

Another UFC day is arriving for fight fans, with several adrenaline-filled matchups. Even outside the arena, you can boost your excitement by betting on your favorite fighters.

Remember, however, that sports betting is an entertainment activity — never an investment. Always keep Responsible Gaming by your side in this octagon to ensure fair action without personal or financial harm.

Place your bets now on UFC Qatar 2025 on Blaze and celebrate every fight!