Arman Tsarukyan seems intent on risking Dana White‘s temper again, with his UFC Qatar stunt raising alarms. The entire MMA world was convinced that Arman Tsarukyan wasn’t getting another title shot anytime soon after he pulled out of UFC 311 against Islam Makhachev. Now, back in action at the UFC Qatar Face-Offs, ‘Ahalkalakets’ is trying to gain the UFC boss’s attention for a title shot against Ilia Topuria. But his choice of antics may not have been the best.

‘El Matador’ is a double champion, having won both the featherweight and lightweight titles. Tsarukyan, however, is very much interested in the latter belt, which he lost the opportunity to snag from Makhachev earlier this year. That got him a bad rap in the eyes of Dana White, who hasn’t given him the title shot yet, simply because he’s bad for business. Tsarukyan isn’t one to back down, shifting the spotlight to him right before the UFC Fight Night 265.

Arman Tsarukyan finds himself in the spotlight at Qatar

Arman Tsarukyan gave fans an early preview of the heat he is bringing to the main event when he headbutted Dan ‘Hangman’ Hooker right in the face. Taking place at the ceremonial weigh-in face-offs, the security separated the two before it could escalate any further. However, Hooker’s reaction to this was priceless.

Laughing off the sudden physical altercation, Hooker seemingly appreciated this wild energy, triggering his fight persona. The ‘Hangman’, who believes Tsarukyan doesn’t quite match his level, shouted back, “Let’s go, let’s go, I love it. Bring it on!” The offender doesn’t seem to regret his actions either, as he exclaimed, “I’m gonna show great knockout and gonna get my title next.”

This pulled a lot of attention, exactly what Tsarukyan wants right now. White prefers Topuria against Justin Gaethje for the star power this match-up brings. For Tsarukyan to convince White for the title shot, he would need to become the biggest headline of the moment.

But this just feels like the wrong kind, with ‘Ahalkalakets’ having already been suspended for 9 months and fined $25,000 after a pre-fight altercation with a fan at UFC 300. Later, when he backed out of the Makhachev clash owing to a back injury, White made it clear that he would have to earn his way back. “He’s not getting a title shot. That means he’s going to have to fight his way back to the title,” White stated.

Tsarukyan, however, looks a little impatient. He’s returning to action after more than a year out, with his last fight against jiu-jitsu black belt Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. Doing that with a headbutt and a newfound beef in the UFC history books isn’t the best way for a comeback, however.

Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker clash before the cage

The build-up to this moment was just as intense, with violent and potentially threatening trash talk. “This fight excites me because they feel like Arman is a lot better than I am. It’s like, anything good that I do, Arman is going to start to look more like an idiot,” Hooker told Sky Sports. A guy who is supposed to beat Topuria losing against the ‘Hangman’ isn’t quite good for his optics.

Dan Hooker added a grotesque, violent depiction, too: “I don’t like that his face is attached to his body. Would love to separate the two. I hate everything he stands for. Can’t wait to elbow him in the nose.” Moreover, Hooker spat that his lightweight opponent is basically a “rich little spoiled kid.” Arman being the son of a millionaire business owner, Nairi Tsarukyan, only supports the narrative.

The Armenian didn’t really reject those claims, either. “He can talk whatever he wants … He never talked personal to me … It’s just business. It’s just fighting. But … about being a spoiled kid, about all that? I understand.” Regarding the fight, however, Tsarukyan clapped back, “It’s easy money, but if I beat him. The fight makes no sense for me. I don’t need money right now, I need the belt.”

Trash talk is basically a pre-fight warning ritual at this point. But this was, without a doubt, wild. No wonder things escalated. Whether that turns into another heated lay-off for the Armenian fighter or gives him the title shot is entirely up to Dana White. However, history doesn’t really side with Tsarukyan.