Touching down in Qatar for the first time in their history, the top of the UFC’s lightweight division will be on full display at UFC Qatar when Armenian standout Arman Tsarukyan battles divisional luminary Dan Hooker, with likely title implications on the line for whoever gets their hand raised. In the penultimate matchup of the evening at UFC Qatar, the welterweights also vie for a potential shot at UFC gold, as previous 170-lb gold standard Belal Muhammad takes on Irish star Ian Machado Garry.
Now, let’s take a look at a few intriguing pre-event facts about UFC Qatar
UFC Qatar: Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Kyoji Horiguchi
Tagir Ulanbekov
Entering UFC Qatar, Ulanbekov has not lost a bout since 2022, losing to Ultimate Fighter winner Tim Elliot at UFC 272. He’s won his last four tilts in a row.
His addition to the UFC Qatar card marks the fourth Fight Night appearance of his company tenure.
Kyoji Horiguchi
Horiguchi makes his return to the UFC on Saturday night in Qatar, having previously fought between 2016 and 2021 racking up a promotional record of 7-1. His match with Ulanbekov was slated to happen at UFC on ABC 8 this past summer, but was scrapped after he withdrew.
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His accolades after leaving the UFC include winning the Bellator and RIZIN bantamweight championships, while also scoring the RIZIN flyweight belt as well.
UFC Qatar: Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Shamil Gaziev
Waldo Cortes-Acosta
His upcoming trip to Qatar marks his second contest in just over three weeks after starching Ante Delija at UFC Vegas 110
The fight will be his fifth in 2025
His UFC record stands at 8-2.
Shamil Gaziev
Gaziev’s upcoming scrap with Spivac at UFC Qatar will be his first contest against a ranked fighter since his encounter with Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Vegas 87 in March 2024. He has won his last two fights, besting Don’Tale Mayes on the judges’ cards and starching Thomas Peterson by first-round knockout.
His appearance at UFC Qatar is also his third promotional assignment in a row taking place in the Middle East.
UFC Qatar: Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Jack Hermansson
Hermansson’s UFC Qatar bout with Orolbai is his first at welterweight after competing solely as a middleweight throughout his entire professional career. He is coming off a first round knockout loss to Gregory Rodrigues at UFC 317 this past June.
He’s 2-3 in his last five fights.
Myktybek Orolbai
His match at UFC Qatar serves as his return to the welterweight category after more than two years, last fighting at the weight class in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 232. His contest with Hermansson is also his first opponent in the company who had previously held a ranking at one point.
Hermansson will be the oldest athlete he has faced in the UFC at 37 years old.
UFC Qatar: Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield
Volkan Oezdemir
At the time of UFC Qatar, Oezdemir will not have competed for almost exactly a year since falling to Carlos Ulberg by unanimous decision UFC Fight Night 248 last year. 15 of his 20 wins as a professional have come via stoppage.
He has been a part of the UFC roster since February 2017, making his debut at UFC Fight Night 109.
Alonzo Menifield
Alonzo Menifield is the oldest fighter on the main card of UFC Qatar at 38 years old. He has won his last two bouts, picking up decision victories over Julius Walker and Oumar Sy, both of whom were previously undefeated.
His last four Octagon opponents boasted a combined record of 39-1.
UFC Qatar: Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry
Belal Muhammad
He is coming off the first loss of his UFC tenure in over six years to former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. He had previously been on a ten-fight winning streak.
All of his professional defeats have come inside the UFC, and all have come against men who are currently ranked or who have held a rank in the past.
UFC Qatar marks his first non-main event matchup since UFC 288
Ian Machado Garry
Machado Garry is coming off a win over Carlos Prates last April at UFC on ESPN 66. He has only lost just once in his entire professional career.
This will be the first time he has competed on a promotional card outside the United States, with the last time he has fought at an international event coming back in June 2021 at Cage Warriors 125.
UFC Qatar: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker
Arman Tsarukyan
His contest at UFC Qatar will be his first since trouncing Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in 2024. He was supposed to face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight belt at UFC 311 this past January but pulled out of the tilt due to back issues.
He is on a four-fight win streak, collecting victories over Damir Ismagulov, Joaquim Silva, Beneil Dariush and the aforementioned Oliveira.
He has stopped two of his last four opponents
Dan Hooker
Hooker has won three bouts in a row. He has not stepped into the cage since a victory over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.
Including UFC Qatar, he has faced only ranked lightweight contenders in his last three Octagon assignments, the other two being Jalin Turner, Gamrot and now Tsarukyan.
