The lightweight division is finally finding some stability, with several top contenders locked in for major fights over the next few months. Charles Oliveira is set to make his return in front of his home fans at UFC Rio, where he will face Mateusz Gamrot in a bid to climb back into the title picture. Meanwhile, the division breathes a sigh of relief as Arman Tsarukyan returns to action after nearly 19 months away, taking on Dan Hooker at UFC Qatar.
The matchup has officially been confirmed by Dana White as a #1 contender’s bout, adding even more weight to an already heated showdown. The fight promises fireworks, a potential classic fueled by sharp trash talk and genuine animosity between the two. Yet, amid all the tension, Hooker surprised many by offering rare praise for his opponent, calling Tsarukyan the best lightweight in the world.
Dan Hooker Calls Arman Tsarukyan a Rich Kid Yet Labels Him the Toughest Challenge in the 155lbs Division
The UFC Qatar main event has been years in the making. Hooker and Tsarukyan have exchanged verbal shots since 2021, when their initial fight negotiations fell through. That long-running tension has fueled plenty of bad blood heading into the company’s first trip to Doha.
Still, Hooker isn’t blind to his rival’s abilities. In fact, during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, ‘The Hangman’ showed respect for Arman Tsarukyan’s skills, even while taking a subtle jab at the reigning kingpin. The New Zealander ignored Ilia Topuria while naming Tsarukyan the best fighter in the lightweight division.
He said, “I knew that absolutely no one wants to fight the guy. I know that no one wants to take that risk. Everyone does have a reason to avoid him as well, with the weight miss and things like that. Now the champion has an excuse to not fight the guy, and like a legitimate excuse in that.”
Hooker also addressed Tsarukyan’s infamous weight miss at UFC 311, which cost him a title fight against Islam Makhachev. The incident didn’t sit well with Dana White, who was reportedly frustrated by the last-minute cancellation, causing Tsarukyan to fall out of favor with the UFC boss.
Dan Hooker shares why he took the Arman Tsarukyan fight:
“I knew that absolutely no one wants to fight the guy. I know that no one wants to take that risk.
This was one the most difficult fight. I don’t discredit the other guys for trying to find the path of least resistance,… pic.twitter.com/2BJdAbmwWO
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 8, 2025
Although the Armenian later served as the backup fighter for the UFC 317 title bout between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, White ultimately chose not to give him the title shot. Adding to the drama, Topuria flat-out rejected Tsarukyan’s callout, saying he wouldn’t face a fighter who can’t make it to fight night.
Hooker continued and said, “You put so much time into something, and the guy pulls out at the weight cut — that’s a legitimate excuse for the UFC to not put you into a big fight. I knew he had to fight to get back into title contention. So I knew that this fight, I would be the only person that would want the most difficult fight.”
He then dropped the bombshell by rating Tsarukyan as the best fighter at 155lbs. “I don’t discredit the other guys for picking their battles and trying to find the path of least resistance. That’s just not the way that I do things. He’s the toughest test. He’s the best fighter in the division.”
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“His daddy can pay for the best strength and conditioning coach. I’ve seen him come out and say he spent 100K on training camp and then pulled out. Bro, what?
He should win the amount of money that he puts into these things. Bro, I drive 5 minutes down the road and go out to… pic.twitter.com/UyMsBNJjIb
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 8, 2025
Hooker’s decision to rate Tsarukyan above Topuria came as a surprise to many, especially given the incredible run Topuria is currently on. During the time Tsarukyan has been inactive since UFC 300, the reigning 155lbs kingpin has defeated elite names like Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira in succession, a streak that has cemented him as the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Despite that, Dan Hooker has been outspoken about his views on Tsarukyan’s image and background. He criticized the Armenian fighter as a rich, spoiled kid who has access to the best training resources money can buy. Hooker argued that Tsarukyan’s rise shows that anyone can become a top fighter if they have the skill and the means.
In contrast, Hooker’s own journey couldn’t be more different. The New Zealander has played the long game in MMA, starting from humble beginnings on the New Zealand regional circuit and gradually building his reputation. As he puts it, he came from nothing. Moreover, he took fights wherever he could, whether in kickboxing rings or against bigger opponents outside his natural 155-pound division.
