Here’s a bold statement: Arman Tsarukyan’s headbutt might not be the reason he missed out on a UFC lightweight title shot, and Dan Hooker is here to set the record straight. But here’s where it gets controversial—despite the pre-fight altercation that left Hooker with a broken nose, he’s not convinced it was the deciding factor in Tsarukyan’s title shot snub. And this is the part most people miss: Hooker believes the UFC’s decision was already made before they even stepped into the octagon in Qatar.
After a 15-month hiatus, Hooker returned to face Tsarukyan in the main event of UFC’s inaugural Qatar show. Less than 24 hours before the fight, Tsarukyan headbutted Hooker during the weigh-ins, shattering his nose. Despite this, Hooker went ahead with the fight, only to suffer a second-round submission loss. UFC CEO Dana White later suggested that Tsarukyan’s title shot was jeopardized by both the headbutt and his earlier withdrawal from a title fight in January 2025. Yet, Hooker isn’t buying it.
In a candid interview with MMA Fighting, Hooker questioned the narrative: ‘Maybe no one was ever getting a title shot from that fight. It feels like smoke and mirrors. They gave him a $50,000 bonus, for crying out loud. How mad could they really be?’ Hooker’s frustration isn’t just about the headbutt—it’s about the UFC’s inconsistent handling of his injury. After the fight, the promotion insisted he get medical clearance for his nose before booking his next bout against Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 325, yet they allowed him to fight Tsarukyan with the same injury.
‘They wanted me to see a specialist, but I told them where to shove it,’ Hooker said. ‘They let me fight with a broken nose once, so why not again? If they’d checked it properly, the fight would’ve been off, and they’d lose their main event. I get it—I didn’t want it checked either. But now they’re demanding clearance? It’s ridiculous.’
Hooker isn’t new to broken noses, having dealt with the injury multiple times. ‘It’s not a big deal,’ he explained. ‘I’ve had a broken nose since I was 18 or 19. It’s never worked right. It’s not like it’s going to make a huge difference now.’
As for Tsarukyan’s title shot, Hooker thinks the UFC should have been upfront: ‘Just tell us neither of us was getting a title shot, win or lose. I’m a big boy—I can handle it. Neither Justin Gaethje nor Paddy Pimblett wants to fight Arman, so why not give them the runner-up championship?’
Looking ahead, Hooker is eager to bounce back from his defeat. He’s never one to back down from a challenge, and while he admits to some ring rust after his long layoff, he’s not making excuses. ‘I got straight back into the gym, but I realized my range and timing were off,’ he said. ‘This camp has been different. I’ve found my distance again, and I’m ready to show a much better version of myself at UFC 325.’
Here’s the controversial question: Is the UFC using the headbutt as a convenient excuse to keep Tsarukyan out of the title picture, or is there more to the story? Let’s discuss in the comments—do you think Hooker’s right, or is there another angle we’re missing?
