With UFC Fight Night set for Nov. 22 in Qatar, the lightweight matchup of Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan has emerged as one of the most compelling fights of the year. Earlier this week, Hooker joined Submission Radio and delivered one of his most candid, charged interviews in recent memory—laying out exactly why he targeted Tsarukyan, how he interprets their stylistic differences, and what he believes is truly at stake.
Below are the eight biggest takeaways from Hooker’s interview, supported by added context and balanced analysis to understand Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan as both a competitive clash and an emotional one.
Point No. 1: Dan Hooker Actively Sought Toughest Matchup Available
Hooker didn’t accept Tsarukyan by accident—he chased him.
“I think he is the best fighter in the division at this weight—and I want to beat him,” Dan Hooker said ahead of his clash vs. Arman Tsarukyan.
Hooker explained that after surveying the lightweight rankings, Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan was the only elite-level pairing available. He believed no one above him in the rankings would take the risk, and Tsarukyan, ranked inside the UFC’s top five, represented the most meaningful and realistic route back toward contention.
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Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan wasn’t matchmaking by necessity. It was matchmaking by intent.
Point No. 2: Dan Hooker Claims Many Fighters, Including Champion, Avoiding Tsarukyan
One of Hooker’s sharpest assertions was that Tsarukyan is a fighter the division has tried to maneuver around.
“A lot of people try to avoid him in the division,” Hooker said on Submission Radio. “The champ, I feel like, doesn’t want that fight.”
Hooker used this claim to elevate the stakes of this weekend’s main event The way he frames it, Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan isn’t just a fight, it’s a sorting mechanism. If Tsarukyan is the opponent everyone else sidesteps, then beating him becomes one of the most powerful statements a lightweight contender can make.
Of course, this is Hooker’s perspective. Tsarukyan’s actual résumé, including a tight fight with Islam Makhachev, victories over Damir Ismagulov, Joaquim Silva, and others—shows he has repeatedly taken difficult matchups ahead of Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan, but Hooker’s framing adds a psychological edge to fight week.
Point No. 3: Dan Hooker Admits Matchup Carries Personal Heat, Insists Approach Doesn’t Change
Hooker made it clear there’s tension between the two, even if he claims it won’t affect his preparation.
“There is a lot of animosity there. I don’t like his face,” he said. “I don’t like that his face is attached to his body—and I would love to separate the two.”
Despite the bluntness, Hooker downplayed the idea that personal feelings change his method going into Dan Hooker vs. Arman Tsarukyan. He said he fights the same whether he likes or dislikes an opponent. The animosity, he says, simply fuels his motivation, not his tactics.
He emphasized that Tsarukyan enters fight week with the burden of expectations, while he gets to compete freely:
“I can come in there with no weight on my shoulders… I’m full of venom for this fight.”
Point No. 4: Dan Hooker Sees Qatar Legitimate Title Eliminator, Possibly BMF Qualifier
Both fighters enter November 22 on upward swings. Hooker carries a three-fight win streak, including a decision victory over Mateusz Gamrot. Tsarukyan remains one of the division’s most respected young contenders with elite wrestling, cardio, and top-tier durability.
Dan Hooker argued that the winner of this fight should be next for either the undisputed lightweight title or, in his case, even the BMF belt.
For readers unfamiliar, the BMF Championship is an honorary championship awarded to fighters known for fan-friendly styles, toughness, and willingness to accept challenging matchups.
“Whoever wins this fight between me and Arman… you have to fight for the title next.”
Hooker later added:
“If he wins, no one wants to see him fight for BMF because he’s a boring [expletive]. They want to see me fight for it.”
Promotionally sharp, but from a sporting perspective, Tsarukyan has delivered his share of high-paced, high-pressure fights as well. Still, the stakes here feel undeniably elevated.
Point No. 5: Dan Hooker Predicts Tsarukyan Will Rely Heavily on Takedowns Once Touched
One of Dan Hooker’s clearest stylistic claims was that Tsarukyan struggles in extended striking exchanges.
“I’ll touch him and he’ll panic shoot,” he said, and he’ll panic shoot, and he’ll panic shoot.”
Hooker believes Tsarukyan will attempt early and repeated takedowns to avoid damage, and that the fight’s entertainment value will hinge on Hooker’s ability to force action and create chaos.
He cited his own win over Gamrot as an example, saying Gamrot became exciting because Hooker pushed the fight into brawling sequences.
To balance this: Tsarukyan is widely recognized as one of lightweight’s most technically complete prospects, known for relentless pressure, strong top control, and improving striking. This is Dan Hooker’s interpretation, not objective fact, but it highlights the mental picture he’s carrying into the fight.
Point No. 6: Dan Hooker Draws Sharp Contrast Between Why He Fights, Why He Thinks Tsarukyan Does
One of the interview’s most revealing themes was motivation.
“I like to fight more than I like to win… he fights to be cool and get likes on Instagram,” Dan Hooker said.
Hooker described himself as a “fighter’s fighter,” drawn to chaos and violence more than scorecards. In contrast, he portrayed Tsarukyan as a structured competitor who approaches MMA like a technical puzzle.
From a stylistic standpoint, both views contain truth. Tsarukyan’s game is built on layered transitions, positional dominance, and smart pacing. Hooker, meanwhile, built his reputation on durability, pressure, and a willingness to engage in prolonged exchanges.
Their motivations, at least as Dan Hooker describes them, reflect the contrast fans will see in the cage.
Point No. 7: Dan Hooker Warns Fight Week Could Turn Volatile
One of the most widely-quoted lines from the interview was Dan Hooker’s stance on pre-fight proximity.
“If he comes in arm’s range to me, I’m going to hit him… cage or car park,” he warned.
Hooker suggested that the UFC will need to control their interactions if they want the fight to proceed. He clarified that he isn’t trying to sabotage the event, but that the tension is real and both men feel it.
While fighters often say similar things before big matchups, Hooker’s tone was distinctly matter-of-fact. Whether that translates into actual confrontation remains to be seen.
Point No. 8: Hooker Sees Clear Path Beyond Qatar: Spain, Ilia Topuria, Big Stages
The interview ended with Hooker outlining a scenario where a win launches him into the biggest fights of his career.
“Go to Qatar, beat Arman, then go over to Spain, beat Ilia, become the world champ.”
He specifically mentioned featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and the idea of fighting him in Spain—highlighting that Hooker views November 22 not just as a comeback fight, but as a gateway into the division’s top tier again.
Ambitious? Yes. Promotional? Also yes. But consistent with the confidence Hooker displayed throughout the entire conversation.
Final Thoughts
The Submission Radio interview showed a version of Dan Hooker who is focused, confrontational, and energized heading into Saturday. The tension is real, the stakes are high, and Hooker’s comments offer a compelling storyline heading into November 22.
Still, the truth of this matchup—its pace, its violence, and its actual contender implications—will only be settled in the Octagon. Tsarukyan’s proven skill set and competitive consistency make this far more complex than Hooker’s rhetoric alone suggests.
Regardless of which narrative proves accurate, UFC Fight Night Qatar now carries legitimate intrigue—and the main event has all the ingredients of a divisional turning point.
