9 Hits And 2 Misses From UFC Qatar: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker

For the primary time in its historical past, the UFC touched down in Qatar, because the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Enviornment performed host to quite a lot of stable performances and key matchups in a couple of contendership scenes.

That is the third nation within the Center East to play host to the UFC, following the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The UFC was simply within the Center East final month for UFC 321, which noticed the notorious Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane heavyweight championship no contest.

The primary occasion noticed a light-weight contenders battle as Arman Tsarukyan returned to the Octagon to tackle Dan Hooker. This marked Tsarukyan’s first combat since defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. He had been scheduled to problem then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, however a again harm throughout weight slicing led to Tsarukyan pulling out at some point earlier than the combat. Hooker, in the meantime, got here into this combat off his UFC 305 win over Mateusz Gamrot.

The co-main occasion was a pivotal combat at welterweight between Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry. This marked Muhammad’s first combat since dropping the welterweight championship to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Machado Garry rebounded from his first professional loss with a win at UFC Kansas Metropolis in April, defeating Carlos Prates.

Who confirmed out in Qatar? Who faltered? Let’s undergo along with the Hits and Misses of UFC Qatar!

Hit: Ismael Naudriev Begins The Momentum

After his upset loss to Park Jun-yong at UFC Baku, Ismael Naudriev wanted one thing huge — and he discovered it with the way in which he put away Ryan Loder through the prelims.

After already catching Loder with a proper hand, Naudriev planted one other one completely on the button, dropping Loder out chilly.

Naudriev is now 2-1 within the Octagon since coming over from Courageous CF. He went 2-2 in his first stint with the UFC. Naudriev wants one other stable win like this one to point out that this second stint goes to be far completely different from the primary.

Hit: Encore, Adbul-Rakhman Yakhyave

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyave had a fast end to safe a UFC contract throughout his look on Dana White’s Contender Sequence. He just about repeated the efficiency to mark his UFC debut at UFC Qatar, too.

After lacking one excessive kick, Yakhyave landed with one and a proper hand. He then pounded away on opponent Rafael Cerqueira earlier than dragging him to the ground, locking up a choke for the submission victory.

Yakhyave appeared on DWCS this previous August, scoring a 30-second end of Alik Lorenz. If he has one other robust outing, the previous ARES FC gentle heavyweight champion may show he’s one to be careful for on the undercard.

Hit: Asu Almabayev Makes Dustin Poirier Proud

Asu Almabayev wasn’t fooling around; he jumped the guilly, and it labored. In a battle of top-10 flyweight contenders, Asu Almabayev discovered himself in bother, however strategically used the guillotine to attain a submission of Alex Perez.

Perez used his hanging and forward-moving stress all through the primary two rounds to take management, although Almabayev fought again effectively through the opening body. The second proved to be a special story, nevertheless, as Perez had the higher hand solidly with the inclusion of two takedown makes an attempt.

Almabayev used Perez’s personal aggression in opposition to him within the third, nevertheless, catching him in a guillotine and scoring the submission.

Almabayev is now 6-1 within the UFC and, at minimal, will take Alex Perez’s No. 7 within the UFC flyweight rankings. He could have now positioned himself two or three extra wins away from difficult Alexandre Pantoja (or whoever the UFC flyweight champion could also be).

Hit: Luke Riley Riles Up The Crowd With Strong Octagon Debut

It was removed from excellent and introduced holes in his recreation. The UFC debut of Luke Riley, nevertheless, can’t be thought-about anything however a hit after the way in which he scored a knockout of Bogdan Grad.

Grad appeared to get the higher of Riley early within the combat, scoring a number of takedowns and utilizing his grappling to outwork him. However Riley landed a stable left hand to drop Grad early within the second, connecting on follow-up photographs to place issues away.

Riley went 11-0 in Cage Warriors earlier than becoming a member of the UFC. And hopefully that is the beginning of a profitable string of occasions within the Octagon for Riley.

Hit: Welcome again, Kyoji Horiguchi

Kyoji Horiguchi had lengthy been thought-about somebody the UFC let get away. However 9 years later, he’s again, and he’s already established himself as (once more) a real contender within the flyweight division.

After a quiet opening spherical in opposition to Tagir Ulanbekov, Horiguchi tagged him a few instances through the second spherical, each touchdown successfully on the ft and controlling the motion on the bottom. After knocking Ulanbekov once more with a head kick and punches within the third, Horiguchi locked him up in a choke, placing Ulanbekov to sleep.

Within the 9 years he’s been away from the UFC, Horiguchi has been a high performer in each RIZIN and Bellator, capturing bantamweight titles in each promotions, in addition to changing into the inaugural RIZIN flyweight champion. Now, he’ll have already got one assertion made as he strives ahead towards a possible shot on the UFC flyweight title once more at some point — simply as he did when difficult Demetrious Johnson a couple of decade in the past.

Hit: Waldo Cortes-Acosta Turns Round And KOs Once more

Waldo Cortes-Acosta solely discovered a few days earlier that he was going to be competing at UFC Qatar. He narrowly made it for weigh-ins and was one way or the other capable of make the 266-pound restrict. After which, he delivered one other spotlight first-round knockout.

Each males swung away, and WCA rocked Shamil Gaziev seconds into the combat. After which all it will find yourself taking is one proper hand to drop Gaziev out to seal the combat in favor of “Salsa Boy.”

Cortes-Acosta fought simply three weeks in the past, going from practically getting completed by way of eye poke to scoring a first-round knockout along with his imaginative and prescient hindered. He’s now fought 5 instances this yr, going 4-1, and he may combat a sixth in December if he will get his manner.

If Merab Dvalishvili loses his title to Petr Yan at UFC 323, Cortes-Acosta has a shot at profitable Fighter of the Yr. Both manner, he could also be positioning himself to problem the winner of Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane 2.

Miss: A Dangerous Determination For Jack Hermansson

Critically, who in Jack Hermansson’s workforce thought it was an excellent thought for him to drop to 170?

Hermansson is 37 years outdated and was coming off a brutal knockout loss to Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues at UFC 317. That was his first combat since February 2024. After which you’ve got him reduce extra weight than earlier than, and he didn’t appear to have the identical form of physique as he did at 185. And now? He will get knocked out in brutal style once more, this time by Myktybek Orolbai.

Hermansson wants to return as much as 185. And to be extra brutal, if he doesn’t wish to do 185 anymore, he could have to name it a profession. I don’t need him to go that route, however I’m involved for his well being, particularly if he tries 170 once more. And he doesn’t have the physique to succeed at 205.

Once more, who made the decision for him to drop to welterweight? As a result of he shouldn’t have on this first place.

Hit: Volkan Oezdemir’s Nonetheless Acquired It

Volkan Oezdemir could also be 36, and he could not have been as energetic during the last couple of years, however he nonetheless can go.

Strain was the secret in his combat with Alonzo Menifield. Oezdemir got here ahead and reduce off the sport, till he trapped Menifield close to the cage, cornering him. That’s when he unloaded on mixtures till the referee stopped the combat.

Oezdemir’s exercise could have slowed, however he’s nonetheless gained three of his final 4 and has been a continuing presence within the rankings of the UFC’s gentle heavyweight division. And if anybody desires to interrupt into the highest 10, he’ll be a troublesome take a look at.

Hit: Ian Garry – “The Future” Would possibly Now Be The Current

There could also be loads of debate about if he deserves a welterweight title shot, however one factor can’t be denied after his win over Belal Muhammad: Ian Garry is legitimately a high contender within the division.

Machado Garry was in management by the opening spherical, getting the higher of Muhammad, who was attempting to commerce with him for some cause. Muhammad then tried takedowns through the second and third rounds, however he discovered no success. Garry’s hanging and takedown protection in the end led him to the choice win.

Did Machado Garry placed on a greater efficiency than Carlos Prates or Michael Morales did final week? Most likely not. Does he have a stable resume for a title shot? Most likely. Regardless, Machado Garry is at minimal on the doorstep of a title shot.

Miss: A Lengthy Street Again For Belal Muhammad

That’s greater than might be stated for Belal Muhammad, sadly for him.

Muhammad had a protracted unbeaten streak and claimed the welterweight title; there’s little question about it. However since then, he gained the title in a boring combat with Leon Edwards, he dropped the gold in his first protection in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena, and now he was simply dealt with by Ian Machado Garry.

Muhammad continues to be going to be a top-10, and perhaps even a top-5, welterweight come the discharge of the brand new rankings. However once you’re a division that’s stuffed with hungry, youthful up-and-comers like those beforehand talked about — mixed with a brand new champion now within the dominant Islam Makhachev? It’s going to be a tough street again to the highest for him.

Hit: Arman Tsarukyan’s Nonetheless No. 1 (Contender)

I gained’t defend Arman Tsarukyan headbutting Dan Hooker and risking the principle occasion. I gained’t defend Arman Tsarukyan getting his suspension, and it’s a disgrace it’s been a couple of yr and a half since we final noticed him in motion. But when there’s one factor UFC Qatar confirmed, it’s that Arman Tsarukyan ought to be getting a light-weight title combat in opposition to Ilia Topuria.

Tsarukyan went toe-to-toe with Hooker on the ft within the first spherical, which additionally featured Hooker attempting his personal submission earlier than Tsarukyan managed the motion for the rest of the spherical. Tsarukyan took benefit of one other failed Hooker submission by dominating from up high, battering Hooker’s face earlier than profitable with an arm-triangle choke.

Tsarukyan will definitely stay No. 1 within the rankings. And if Ilia Topuria will get previous his first challenger (whether or not it’s Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett) — and if Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev can’t be made — then the UFC could have to think about Topuria vs. Tsarukyan. It logically looks like the most effective matchup — and maybe probably the most attention-grabbing stylistically.

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