Hooker Questioned Tsarukyan’s Pullout
Dan Hooker criticized Arman Tsarukyan after back issues forced the contender out of UFC 311 on January 18, 2025. Tsarukyan had been scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
A title fight changed on the eve of the event
The UFC announced Tsarukyan’s withdrawal on January 17 and elevated Renato Moicano into the main event. Moicano had already been preparing to compete on the card against Beneil Dariush.
Makhachev retained the championship by submitting the replacement challenger with a D’Arce choke at 4:05 of the first round. Tsarukyan’s planned rematch with the champion therefore did not take place.
Hooker challenged the timing in an interview
Speaking with Submission Radio afterward, Hooker expressed surprise that a problem serious enough to cancel the fight had emerged so late. He questioned the circumstances while discussing the demands of fight week.
Hooker also referred to Dana White’s statement that Tsarukyan would have to work back toward another title opportunity. His comments added another public exchange to the tension between the two lightweight contenders.
Tsarukyan eventually answered inside the Octagon
The rivals met later that year in the main event of UFC Qatar on November 22, 2025. Their contest took place at ABHA Arena in Doha.
Tsarukyan won by arm-triangle choke at 3:34 of the second round. The submission gave their rivalry a completed sporting result after the January criticism had centered on a championship booking that Tsarukyan was unable to fulfill.
Sources
- UFC: withdrawal, back issues and replacement announcement
- MMA Mania: Hooker’s Submission Radio comments
- UFC: Makhachev–Moicano result and event details
- UFC: November 22 Qatar main-event result
