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Brett Okamoto
UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan, slated to headline UFC Fight Night this Saturday in Qatar, headbutted his rival, Dan Hooker, during a ceremonial weigh-in on Friday.
Tsarukyan (22-3) delivered the headbutt to Hooker (24-12) as they were set to face off one last time before their five-round matchup. Hooker, hailing from New Zealand, was unharmed by the impact and appeared to relish the confrontation.
This just got PERSONAL💥@ArmanUFC vs @DanTheHangman
[ Watch #UFCQatar on the @ESPN app | SAT | 1pmET ] pic.twitter.com/oU3eDqU0Hw
— UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2025
«Let’s go, I love it,» Hooker expressed to UFC commentator Michael Bisping.
Weigh-in skirmishes have become infrequent in the UFC. Tsarukyan, originally from Armenia, has a brief history of such incidents. He was suspended and fined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in 2024 after he threw a punch at a spectator during his entrance to the Octagon at UFC 300 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The UFC operates under self-regulation in Qatar, so any penalties regarding Friday’s headbutt would need to be imposed by the promotion itself.
Tsarukyan is aiming to establish himself as a potential contender for the lightweight title. He had been scheduled for his first UFC title fight against then-champion Islam Makhachev in January, but had to pull out the day prior due to back spasms.
Both Tsarukyan and Hooker are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 6, respectively, in the UFC lightweight division.
