RADIO
DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS Lineup Picks - UFC Qatar: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker on 11/22/25. Alen's MMA DFS analysis to build winning daily fantasy UFC lineups.
After last week’s blockbuster UFC 322 event, the leading promotion is heading to the Middle East. For the first time, the UFC is heading to Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, Qatar, for UFC Qatar. UFC Qatar event features 14 fights overall, including a lightweight headliner between top contender Arman Tsarukyan and fan-favorite Dan Hooker. Both Tsarukyan and Hooker are set to return from lengthy layoffs, looking to re-establish themselves atop the rankings.
The co-main event is set to feature a welterweight fight between Ian Machado Garry and former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad. Although the newly crowned welterweight king, Islam Makhachev, is supposed to have his first title defense against Michael Morales, the winner of this fight just might be the next in line for a title shot. To open up the UFC Qatar main card, we have a flyweight bout between Tagir Ulanbekov and Kyoji Horiguchi, followed by a welterweight fight between Jack Hermansson and Myktybek Orolbai. Also on the main card, we have a former title challenger, Volkan Oezdemi, facing off against explosive Alonzo Menifield.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Qatar: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker on 11/22/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck, RotoBallers!
DraftKings MMA Lightweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Arman Tsarukyan, $9.5K - vs. Dan Hooker
Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker are set to face off in the main event of UFC Qatar on Saturday. Both Tsarukyan and Hooker are looking to extend their win streak.
HE WASTES NO TIME ⏳ @ArmanUFC looks to make a statement in the #UFCQatar main event!
[ LIVE NOV 22 at 1pmET on the @ESPN app ] pic.twitter.com/dYia0CdxWP
— UFC (@ufc) November 20, 2025
Tsarukyan has been on a tear, winning four in a row and nine of 10 dating back to July 2019. The only loss he suffered in those 10 fights was to Mateusz Gamrot, and the majority of fans and fighters thought Tsarukyan should have won that fight. Tsarukyan is one of the best grapplers in the UFC lightweight division, and he often takes his opponents down to the mat and beats them up there.
He also has knockout power, and he's finished nine of his opponents via knockout/TKO. He was last seen in action back in April 2024 at UFC 300, where he defeated former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira by unanimous decision. Before that, Tsarukyan finished Beneil Dariush by knocking him out in the first round.
Like Tsarukyan, Hooker hasn't fought for quite some time. He last competed back in August 2024 at UFC 305, where he extended his win streak by beating Mateusz Gamrot via split decision. Since his return to lightweight in 2022, Hooker got back on the right track and is now on a three-fight winning streak.
In his first fight back at lightweight, Hooker faced off against Claudio Puelles, and it took him two rounds to finish Puelles via TKO. His next fight was a catchweight bout against Jalin Turner. It was an extremely close fight, but Hooker managed to win by split decision. Known as a striker and one of the most exciting fighters to watch, 46% of Hooker's wins have ended in a knockout/TKO.
Tsaurkyan enters this fight with an MMA record of 22-3 and 9-2 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.79 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. Tsaurkyan absorbs 1.84 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 53%. His grappling is just as strong, averaging 3.25 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 37% and a takedown defense of 75%.
Hooker enters this fight with an MMA record of 24-12 and 14-8 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.03 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. Hooker is absorbing 4.72 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 51%. His grappling, however, hasn't been that good as he's averaging just 0.73 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 34% and a takedown defense of 78%.
I don't think Tsarukyan will be willing to stand and trade with Hooker, and he shouldn't be, as Hooker is one of the best strikers in the lightweight division. Although Hooker is a black belt in BJJ, Tsarukyan's grappling is leagues above Hooker's. Hooker has yet to beat an elite contender. He has also struggled against wrestlers and being held down, and that is what Tsarukyan's game is all about.
I'm not sure Tsarukyan will be able to finish Hooker; however, my prediction is that this fight is going to be one-sided. If he isn't able to finish Hooker, Tsarukyan is most likely going to outwrestle him en route to a unanimous decision win.
DraftKings MMA Welterweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Ian Machado Garry, $8.8K - vs. Belal Muhammad
Ian Machado Garry is scheduled to take on former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC Qatar on Saturday. Machado Garry looks to win back-to-back fights while Muhammad looks to bounce back from his title loss.
HE HAS POWER IN HIS HANDS 👊@IanGarryMMA is ready for the biggest fight of his career this weekend!
[ #UFCQatar | SAT 1pmET on the @ESPN app ] pic.twitter.com/NZn1x4M2Rl
— UFC (@ufc) November 21, 2025
Machado Garry is riding the momentum from his decision victory over Carlos Prates in April, which marked his successful return following his first professional loss to undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov in December 2024. Known for his kickboxing, straight punches, and precise distance management, Machado Garry is one of the best strikers in the welterweight division. Before his loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, Machado Garry was on a 15-fight win streak. He defeated the likes of Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, Geoff Nea,l and Michael "Venom" Page. If Machado Garry can have an impressive performance over Muhammad, he'd find himself right back in the title mix.
Muhammad lost his welterweight title at UFC 315 back in May after a unanimous decision defeat against Jack Della Maddalena in a fight that took place primarily on the feet. The 37-year-old Muhammad did manage to take Della Maddalena three times, but he wasn't able to hold him down for long.
Before his loss to Della Maddalena, Muhammad was on an 11-fight unbeaten streak, having beaten former title challengers Demian Maia, Stephen Thompson, and Gilbert Burns on his way to receiving a title shot. He became the welterweight champion after dominating Leon Edwards for five rounds, but he lost his next fight to Della Maddalena.
Machado Garry enters this fight with an MMA record of 16-1 and 9-1 in the UFC. He averages 4.77 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Machado Garry is absorbing 2.77 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 51%. His grappling is also decent, averaging 1.02 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 33% and a takedown defense of 73%.
Muhammad enters this fight with an MMA record of 24-4 with one NC and 15-4 with one NC in the UFC. He is averaging 4.46 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 43%. Muhammad absorbs 3.78 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 55%. His grappling is also solid, averaging 2.24 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 38% and a takedown defense of 90%.
It's hard to predict the winner of this fight, but I'm going with Machado Garry. Muhammad is an outstanding wrestler who has an incredible gas tank, but I don't think he'll be able to hold Machado Garry down long enough to win. I also think Machado Garry won't be able to knock Muhammad out, considering just how tough and durable Muhammad is.
My prediction is that Machado Garry will defeat Muhammad via unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Light Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Volkan Oezdemir, $8.9K - vs. Alonzo Menifield
Volkan Oezdemir is scheduled to take on Alonzo Menifield on the main card of UFC Qatar on Saturday. Oezdemir will look to get back in the win column while Menifield looks to extend his win streak.
His KO power is INSANE💥@Volkan_Oezdemir steps back into the Octagon this weekend at #UFCQatar! pic.twitter.com/q931ishhil
— UFC (@ufc) November 18, 2025
After being away from the Octagon for almost a year, former title challenger Oezdemir returns this Saturday, promising to knock Menifield out. Known as a finisher and a knockout artist, 13 of his 20 wins have ended in a knockout/TKO, and two have ended in a submission win.
He was last seen in action in November 2024 at UFC Macau, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Carlos Ulberg. Before his fight with Ulberg, Oezdemir had two straight first-round finishes, one of which was a brutal knockout win over Johnny Walker. Since signing with the leading promotion, Oezdemir has gone 8-7.
Early in his career, Menifield was known for charging forward and swinging wild power shots capable of knocking out anyone. But back-to-back knockout losses to Azamat Murzakanov and Ulberg forced Menifield to change his approach to fights. His ability to slow fights down and drain opponents has been underrated.
Menifield got back in the win column in February by beating Julius Walker via split decision. He was last seen in action in June at UFC Atlanta, where he won his second consecutive fight by defeating Oumar Sy via unanimous decision.
Oezdemir enters this fight with an MMA record of 20-8. He averages 4.95 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. Oezdemir absorbs 4.22 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 55%. Regarding his grappling, Oezdemir is averaging 0.50 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 29% and his takedown defense is 80%.
Menifield enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-5-1 and 10-5-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 3.79 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 53%. Menifield absorbs 3.76 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 50%. His grappling has been decent, averaging 0.50 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 31% and a takedown defense of 78%.
Both Oezdemir and Menifield are constant knockout threats throughout the fight, but Oezdemir seems to be tougher and more durable in comparison to Menifield. Oezdemir is also a more polished striker, and his defense is better than Manifield's. My prediction is that Oezdemir will walk out victorious, and I think he'll win either by knocking out Menifield or by unanimous decision.
