{{short description|Mixed martial arts event in 2025}} {{Infobox MMA event |name= UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker |promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship |image=UFC_Fight_Night_265_poster.jpg |date= {{start date|2025|11|22}} |venue= Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena |city= Al Rayyan, Qatar |attendance= Not announced<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/11/23/ufc-fight-night-265-qatar-post-event-facts-belal-muhammad-losing-skid/87363122007/|title=UFC Fight Night 265 post-event facts: Belal Muhammad hits new low|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2025-11-23|access-date=2025-11-23}}</ref> |gate= |previousevent= UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev |followingevent= UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2 }}
'''''UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker''''' (also known as '''''UFC Fight Night 265''''') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on November 22, 2025, at the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, Qatar.<ref name="Qatar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/9/24455648/ufc-announces-first-ever-event-in-qatar-on-nov-22-partnership-with-visit-qatar|title=UFC announces first event in Qatar on Nov. 22, partnership with Visit Qatar|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Jose Youngs|date=2025-07-09|access-date=2025-07-09}}</ref>
==Background== This event marked the promotion's debut in Qatar, which became the third country in the Middle East to host it, after the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.<ref name="Qatar"/> There were initially rumors that the first event in the country would take place on May 17 at UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales, but that card was moved to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for unknown reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/en/sports/11263494|title=Fight Night 259, Qatar → APEX|publisher=mk.co.kr|author=Kang Daeho|date=2025-03-14|access-date=2025-03-14}}</ref>
The event headliner featured a lightweight bout between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker.<ref name="ME">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/10/01/ufc-fight-night-qatar-arman-tsarukyan-vs-dan-hooker-booked/86455082007|title=Arman Tsarukyan draws Dan Hooker for UFC Fight Night 265 main event in Qatar|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Farah Hannoun|date=2025-10-01|access-date=2025-10-01}}</ref>
A heavyweight bout between Serghei Spivac and Shamil Gaziev was scheduled for this event.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Farah Hannoun|title=Heavyweight matchup between Serghei Spivac and Shamil Gaziev headed to UFC Qatar|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/09/12/ufc-qatar-serghei-spivac-vs-shamil-gaziev-heavyweight-mma-matchup-fight-booking/86111251007/|date=2025-09-12|access-date=2025-09-13|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com}}</ref> The pairing was originally scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allboxing.ru/news/20250228-0920/sergey-spivak-i-shamil-gaziev-mogut-provesti-boy-17-maya|title=Сергей Спивак и Шамиль Газиев могут провести бой 17 мая|publisher=allboxing.ru|author=Kirill Ivanov|date=2025-02-28|access-date=2025-02-28}} {{in lang|ru}}</ref> then shifted to UFC 316. However, Gaziev withdrew from that event due to a broken finger sustained during training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://athlonsports.com/mma/ufc-serghei-spivac-vs-shamil-gaziev-fight-announced-ufc-316|title=UFC 316 fight card levels up – heavyweights join the main card|publisher=athlonsports.com|author=Prince Horton|date=2025-04-01|access-date=2025-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vringe.com/mma/news/188256-ne-gaziev-u-spivaka-novyy-sopernik-po-ufc-316.htm|title=Не Газиев. У Спивака новый соперник по UFC 316|publisher=vringe.com|author=Staff|date=2025-04-24|access-date=2025-04-24}} {{in lang|ru}}</ref> In turn, Spivac withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and was replaced by former LFA Heavyweight Champion Waldo Cortes-Acosta.<ref name="WCA">{{Cite web|author=Andrew Richardson|date=2025-11-20|title=Waldo Cortes-Acosta saves UFC Qatar Heavyweight fight after last-second Serghei Spivac withdrawal|url=https://www.mmamania.com/latest-news/404369/waldo-cortes-acosta-saves-ufc-qatar-heavyweight-fight-after-last-second-serghei-spivac-withdrawal|access-date=2025-11-20|publisher=mmamania.com}}</ref>
A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger Paulo Costa and Sharabutdin Magomedov was expected to take place at this event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lowkickmma.com/paulo-costa-books-shara-bullet-magomedov-fight-at-ufc-qatar/|title=Paulo Costa Books Shara 'Bullet' Magomedov Fight at UFC Qatar|publisher=lowkickmma.com|author=Staff|date=2025-09-04|access-date=2025-09-04}}</ref> However, Magomedov withdrew due to undergoing nose surgery, and the bout was removed from the card.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-news/388379/sorry-qatar-fans-shara-bullet-magomedov-not-fighting-paulo-costa-in-doha|title=Sorry, Qatar fans! Shara 'Bullet' Magomedov not fighting Paulo Costa in Doha|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Ryan Harkness|date=2025-09-11|access-date=2025-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/11/17/ufc-qatar-how-to-watch-tsarukyan-hooker-garry-muhammad-odds-more/87316566007/|title=UFC Qatar: How to watch Tsarukyan-Hooker and Garry-Muhammad, lineup, odds, more|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Matt Erickson|date=2025-11-17|access-date=2025-11-17}}</ref>
A heavyweight bout between promotional newcomers Marek Bujło and José Luiz was initially scheduled for the event.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wszystko jasne! Marek Bujło poznał rywala i datę debiutu w organizacji UFC|url=https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/mma/1211041/wszystko-jasne-marek-bujlo-poznal-rywala-i-date-debiutu-w-organizacji-ufc|date=2025-09-22|access-date=2025-09-22|publisher=sportowefakty.wp.pl|author=Jacek Łosak}} {{in lang|pl}}</ref> However, Luiz was later replaced for undisclosed reasons by current LFA Heavyweight Champion Denzel Freeman, who also made his promotional debut.<ref name="Freeman">{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/09/25/ufc-signs-luke-fox-former-nxt-prospect-marine/86353380007/|title=UFC signs LFA champ 'Luke Fox' Denzel Freeman|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2025-09-25|access-date=2025-09-25}}</ref>
A flyweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Kyoji Horiguchi (who is also a former one-time RIZIN flyweight and two-time bantamweight champion, as well as a former Bellator bantamweight world champion) and Tagir Ulanbekov took place at this event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iloveqatar.net/news/sports/ufc-fight-night-doha-debut-qatar-arman-tsarukyan-dan-hooker-showdown|title=UFC® Fight Night Doha to debut with Arman Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker showdown on 22 November 2025|publisher=iloveqatar.net|author=Cassandra Pallagud|date=2025-10-02|access-date=2025-10-02}}</ref> The pairing was initially expected to meet at UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. in June, but Horiguchi withdrew for undisclosed reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/article/ufc-sets-fight-night-event-in-baku-for-june-headlined-by-hill-vs-roundtree/|title=UFC sets Fight Night event in Baku for June, headlined by Hill vs. Roundtree|publisher=sportsnet.ca|author=Staff|date=2025-04-11|access-date=2025-04-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/05/19/ufc-baku-kyoji-horiguchis-return-off-tagir-ulanbekov-azat-maksum/83731397007/|title=Kyoji Horiguchi's UFC return delayed, Tagir Ulanbekov gets new opponent in Baku|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2025-05-19|access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref>
A light heavyweight bout between former KSW and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Błachowicz and Bogdan Guskov was scheduled for this event.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-08-31|access-date=2025-08-31|title=Jan Błachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov set for UFC Qatar debut|url=https://www.lowkickmma.com/jan-blachowicz-vs-bogdan-guskov-set-for-ufc-qatar-debut/|publisher=lowkickmma.com|author=Timothy Wheaton}}</ref> However, the pairing was moved to UFC 323 for unknown reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Farah Hannoun and Nolan King|title=Jan Blachowicz meets rising contender at UFC 323|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/10/13/ufc-323-jan-blachowicz-vs-bogdan-guskov-booked/85927399007/|access-date=2025-10-13|date=2025-10-13|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com}}</ref>
A featherweight bout between Muhammad Naimov and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Grasso vs. Team Shevchenko featherweight winner Mairon Santos was originally scheduled for this event.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mairon Santos enfrenta Muhammad Naimov no UFC Catar, em novembro|url=https://agfight.com/ufc/mairon-santos-enfrenta-muhammad-naimov-no-ufc-catar-em-novembro|date=2025-10-15|access-date=2025-10-16|publisher=agfight.com|author=Diego Ribas}} {{in lang|pt-br}}</ref> However, for undisclosed reasons, the matchup was rescheduled to take place two weeks later at UFC 323.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/10/22/ufc-323-jalin-turner-vs-edson-barboza-news/86841463007/|title=Jalin Turner's UFC comeback announced vs. violent lightweight staple|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2025-10-22|access-date=2025-10-22}}</ref>
A bantamweight bout between Felipe Lima and Daniel Marcos was scheduled for this event.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aktuálne: Bývalý šampión Oktagonu má oznámený ďalší ťažký zápas v organizácii UFC|url=https://sport.aktuality.sk/mma-fanatik/aktualne-byvaly-sampion-oktagonu-ma-oznameny-dalsi-tazky-zapas-v-organizacii-ufc/|date=2025-09-06|access-date=2025-09-06|publisher=sport.aktuality.sk|author=Jakubisko}} {{in lang|sk}}</ref> However, Lima withdrew for undisclosed reasons, and Marcos was instead rescheduled to face a new opponent two weeks earlier at UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-fight-announcements/399438/switcheroo-ufc-vegas-110-coughs-up-bantamweight-bout-spits-it-to-ufc-vegas-111|title=Switcheroo! UFC Vegas 110 coughs up bantamweight bout, spits it to UFC Vegas 111|publisher=mmamania.com|author=Alexander Behunin|date=2025-10-29|access-date=2025-10-29}}</ref>
==Results== {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN+)}} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Arman Tsarukyan |def. |Dan Hooker |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |2 |3:34 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Ian Machado Garry |def. |Belal Muhammad |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Volkan Oezdemir |def. |Alonzo Menifield |KO (knee and punches) |1 |1:27 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Myktybek Orolbai |def. |Jack Hermansson |KO (punch) |1 |2:46 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Heavyweight |Waldo Cortes-Acosta |def. |Shamil Gaziev |KO (punch) |1 |1:22 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Flyweight |Kyoji Horiguchi |def. |Tagir Ulanbekov |Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) |3 |2:18 | }} {{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN+)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |Luke Riley |def. |Bogdan Grad |KO (punches) |2 |0:30 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Nicolas Dalby |def. |Saygid Izagakhmaev |Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Flyweight |Asu Almabayev |def. |Alex Perez |Submission (guillotine choke) |3 |0:22 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev |def. |Rafael Cerqueira |Submission (rear-naked choke) |1 |0:33 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Aleksandre Topuria |def. |Bekzat Almakhan |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |Ismail Naurdiev |def. |Ryan Loder |KO (punch) |1 |1:26 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Nurullo Aliev |def. |Shaqueme Rock |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Heavyweight |Denzel Freeman |def. |Marek Bujło |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-november-22-2025|title=UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2025-10-02}}</ref>
== Bonus awards == The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/11/22/ufc-qatar-bonuses-waldo-cortes-acosta-kyoji-horiguchi-luke-riley-arman-tsarukyan-50000/87423320007/|title=UFC Qatar bonuses: Waldo Cortes-Acosta’s legendary turnaround pays off|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Matt Erickson|date=2025-11-22|access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref> *'''Fight of the Night:''' No bonus awarded. *'''Performance of the Night: Arman Tsarukyan''', '''Waldo Cortes-Acosta''', '''Kyoji Horiguchi''', and '''Luke Riley'''
== See also == {{Portal|Martial Arts}} *2025 in UFC *List of current UFC fighters *List of UFC events
== References == {{reflist}}
{{UFC Events}} {{2025 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:2025 in UFC Category:2025 in Qatari sport Category:UFC Fight Night Category:November 2025 sports events in Qatar Category:Sport in Al Rayyan Category:Mixed martial arts in Qatar