The UFC roadshow makes its way from Madison Square Garden in New York all the way to the Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Doha this week for the promotion’s first-ever visit to Qatar. The event may be sandwiched between two of the most star-studded pay-per-view cards on the organization’s calendar, but there are still plenty of compelling matchups for fans to look forward to.
The main event between Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) could carry significant implications for the lightweight title picture, while both Belal Muhammad (24-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) and Ian Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will feel that a victory in the co-headliner could be enough to earn the first crack at new welterweight champion Islam Makhachev in 2026.
Let’s break down the top two fights taking place at UFC Fight Night 265 this Saturday.
Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
The 155-pound division’s No. 1-ranked contender finally makes his return in this weekend’s main event. Tsarukyan hasn’t competed since edging out former champion Charles Oliveira over three rounds at UFC 300 more than 18 months ago.
The Armenian standout was scheduled to face Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 311 in January, but he withdrew on just a day’s notice due to injury, a move that appeared to draw the ire of UFC president Dana White.
Having gone 9-1 since losing to Makhachev in his Octagon debut back in 2019, Tsarukyan should remain firmly in the mix for a potential shot at new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, especially if he can get back in the UFC’s good graces with a strong showing this Saturday.
Standing in his way is a resurgent Dan Hooker, who has won all three of his fights since returning to 155 pounds following an ill-fated featherweight run in 2022.
While many experts believe that Tsarukyan may be a step too far for “The Hangman” this Saturday, Hooker is never an opponent to be taken lightly. He’s a fighter’s fighter, and a man who is built for the trenches.
If Tsarukyan is to emerge victorious in Doha this weekend, he’s going to have to walk through hell to earn that win.
Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry (Welterweight)
The discourse surrounding the welterweight title picture has been front and center since Islam Makhachev claimed the 170-pound belt in New York last Saturday. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales also jumped ahead of the pack with their respective first-round knockout wins at MSG.
But recency bias is powerful in this sport, and both participants in this Saturday’s co-main event have a major opportunity to leave no doubt about who deserves to be the first challenger to Makhachev’s throne.
For Belal Muhammad, the big question this weekend is how he plans to approach his matchup with Ian Machado Garry. After his failed attempt to strike with Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 earlier this year resulted in him losing the title, will “Remember the Name” continue to trust in his stand-up skills, or will he revert to the aggressive, wrestling-heavy approach that helped him overpower Stephen Thompson and Leon Edwards during his rise to the championship?
In truth, implementing either style against Machado Garry won’t be easy. The Irishman manages distance better than anyone on the UFC roster, and his exceptional performance in his loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov last year proved that his grappling is not to be underestimated.
While Prates and Morales made strong cases for a title opportunity last weekend, it’s Machado Garry who appears best positioned to pose real problems for Islam Makhachev should they meet in early 2026.
Now the onus is on “The Future” to go out and earn that title shot in Doha this weekend.
Complete UFC Fight Night 265 Fight Card
MAIN CARD
- Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (Lightweight)
- Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry (Welterweight)
- Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)
- Jack Hermansson vs. Myktybek Orolbai (Welterweight)
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)
- Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov (Flyweight)
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Luke Riley vs. Bogdan Grad (Featherweight)
- Saygid Izagakhmaev vs. Nicolas Dalby (Welterweight)
- Alex Perez vs. Asu Almabayev (Flyweight)
- AbdulRakhman Yakhyaev vs. Raffael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)
- Bekzat Almakhan vs. Aleksandre Topuria (Bantamweight)
- Ryan Loder vs. Ismail Naurdiev (Middleweight)
- Nurullo Alliev vs. Shem Rock (Lightweight)
- Marek Bujło vs. Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
