UFC makes Qatar debut with sold-out Fight Night at ABHA Arena

Doha: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) staged its first event in Qatar on Saturday, drawing a capacity crowd to the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah A...

Doha: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) staged its first event in Qatar on Saturday, drawing a capacity crowd to the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena (ABHA Arena) for a card headlined by two top-ranked bouts in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. The event marked the promotion’s debut in the country and added another major international competition to Qatar’s sporting calendar.

Tsarukyan submits Hooker in main event

Arman Tsarukyan strengthened his position as a leading lightweight contender with a second-round submission victory over Dan Hooker.

Tsarukyan secured an arm-triangle choke at 3:34 of Round 2, closing the event with a dominant performance.

The 29-year-old Armenian-born contender has now won five straight and 10 of his last 11 outings, his only recent defeat being a narrow decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot. Already holding the No. 1 ranking, Tsarukyan called for a championship opportunity after the fight and proposed a title bout against Ilia Topuria at the end of January.