Tsarukyan submits Hooker in UFC Qatar main event

Arman Tsarukyan delivered a statement by submitting Dan Hooker in the UFC Qatar main event Saturday.

Tsarukyan secured an arm triangle at the 3:34 mark of the second round. Saturday's victory marks the 29-year-old's sixth career submission win and his 15th win via finish.

Ilia Topuria reigns over the lightweight division, having knocked out Charles Oliveira after Islam Makhachev vacated the title in June. Tsarukyan believes he should get a title shot soon given Saturday's result and his status as the No. 1 contender in the 155-pound division.

"Yes, of course. Everybody knows I've got to fight for the title, and I'm ready at the end of January," Tsarukyan said, per UFC on TNT. "Just send me (the) contract. I'll be there."

Tsarukyan now owns a 23-3 record that includes a 10-2 mark with the promotion. The Russian fighter is on a five-fight win streak that includes a split-decision win over Oliveira at UFC 300 in 2024. He earned consecutive finishes over Joaquim Silva and Beneil Dariush prior to that fight.

A back injury forced him to pull out of a title opportunity against Makhachev at UFC 311 in January one day before the event. The two fought in Tsarukyan's debut for the promotion in 2019, which Makhachev won by unanimous decision. Tsarukyan's one other UFC loss was to Mateusz Gamrot, although many considered him the winner of that fight.

The 35-year-old Hooker saw his three-fight win streak end Saturday. The New Zealand native had been a perfect 3-0 since returning to the lightweight division in 2022.