“He was always on the top, but he’s never been a contender, so this is his chance to be a contender.”
Arman Tsarukyan (left) and Dan Hooker will square off in the main event at UFC Qatar this weekend. Photo / Getty Images
As the pair prepare for the meeting this weekend, there are some similarities in their pathways to Doha. Neither athlete has appeared in the octagon in more than a year – Tsarukyan’s layoff in part due to a back injury; Hooker’s a broken hand – and neither has lost since 2022.
While Hooker is looking to jump the queue, for Tsarukyan, a win will solidify his place as next in line after he forfeited his first title shot in January. The 29-year-old was due to challenge then champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 but pulled out a day before the event due to his back injury.
It was a situation that didn’t go down too well with UFC boss Dana White, who later said Tsarukyan would have to win another fight before being considered for a title shot.
He did weigh in as the back-up when Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira contested the vacant title in June after Makhachev relinquished the belt to move up a division, but was ultimately not required.
“It’s been a good process,” Tsarukyan reflected.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t fight for the title, but still, I got a lot of experience from the pull-out, I got a lot of experience [from being] back-up, and now I’m fighting this weekend and I’m so excited.
“It was a hard year, but you know, I’m used to it. When you work hard, it pays off.”
Heading into this weekend’s contest, Tsarukyan and Hooker have their clear advantages; the Kiwi with his striking and the Armenian with his grappling.
That said, they are both well-drilled across the board and Tsarukyan indicated he wouldn’t shy away from trying to match Hooker on the feet if that was how the fight played out.
“He’s a good fighter. He’s dangerous on the feet, but on the ground, I think my game is way better,” Tsarukyan said.
“I think I’m more powerful on the striking; my hands, my legs – I kick harder, I punch harder. Maybe my technique is not that good, but on the feet, if I punch him, I can knock him out.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
