Arman Tsarukyan made an emphatic statement at UFC Qatar on Saturday evening , forcing Dan Hooker to tap to a devastating arm-triangle choke just 3:34 into the second round of their lightweight main event. The performance was quintessentially Tsarukyan—technical, dominant, and ultimately suffocating for his opponent. Expand Tweet

From the opening bell, Tsarukyan's aggression set the tone. The number-one-ranked lightweight came out swinging with crisp combinations while mixing in low kicks, immediately backing the New Zealand native against the fence. Though Hooker attempted to counter with a jab midway through the opening frame, Tsarukyan's striking accuracy forced the action to the canvas. Once there, Tsarukyan controlled the fight with relentless ground-and-pound and elbows from side

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