After over a year away from the Octagon, Arman Tsarukyan has shown he's still a threatening force at lightweight who could be in line for a title shot. Tsarukyan picked up a second-round finish of Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Qatar.
After almost getting a trip on Hooker early in the fight, Tsarukyan went toe-to-toe with him on the feet. Hooker looked to get a takedown on Tsarukyan, and even looked to lock up a choke, but Tsarukyan got on top and controlled the rest of the round from side control.
Hooker looked to lock up a guillotine choke during the second round, but Tsarukyan made him pay by getting in his guard and working his way into a dominant top position. After some strong ground-and-pound, Tsarukyan ended things with a tight arm-triangle choke, scoring the submission.
Arman Tsarukyan Submits Dan Hooker At UFC Qatar
Tsarukyan has now won five straight, and he's won 10 of 11 since dropping his UFC debut to current UFC welterweight champion and former lightweight champ Islam Makhachev. This was Tsarukyan's first fight since defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. Tsarukyan was scheduled to challenge Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 311, but a back injury while cutting weight forced him out of the fight.
Hooker sees a three-fight win streak snapped with this defeat. This was his first fight since defeating Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.