A UFC lightweight title shot could hang in the balance for Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker. The UFC Fight Night headliners hope to use Saturday's fight in Doha, Qatar, as a launching pad to Ilia Topuria.

Tsarukyan (22-3) checks off what should be the last stop on his redemption arc. His reputation took a major hit after UFC 311. Tsarukyan pulled out of his lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev, citing a back injury. If losing his title shot wasn't bad enough, UFC CEO Dana White said Tsarukyan would need to earn another crack at gold. He made reparations by serving as backup for Topuria vs. Oliveira. Tsarukyan believes the UFC will position him as Topuria's next fight once he puts away an overmatched Hooker.

"If you compare our skills and who I fought and beat, I'm in the right

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