UFC Qatar Fight Night 265 was a landmark card — the promotion’s first-ever event in Qatar, hosted at the ABHA Arena and headlined by a high-stakes lightweight clash between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker. The event delivered big knockouts, breakout performances, and a dominant main event finish that may have punched Tsarukyan’s ticket to a title shot.

But beyond the action inside the cage, one of the biggest questions fans always ask is simple:

“How much did the fighters get paid?”

Because Qatar events often come with sweeter appearance fees, international bonuses, and higher discretionary pay, we can estimate realistic fighter payouts based on:

• Previous disclosed purses

• Win bonuses (standard + higher-ranked multipliers)

• Typical UFC contract structures

• Performance bonuses

• Qatar international event incentives

• Locker-room bonuses (estimated)

• Rankings and star power

Let’s break down the full results and realistic payout estimates for UFC Fight Night 265.

Disclaimer: The UFC does not publicly release exact fighter contracts. The figures below are realistic estimates based on previous disclosed purses, current rankings, standard fight week incentive pay, and international event bonuses.

Total Estimated Payouts for UFC Qatar Fight Night 265 – NOV 2025

With stacked matchups, massive finishes, and a card full of international talent, UFC Qatar Fight Night 265 stands as one of the most financially rewarding UFC Fight Nights of the year. The Middle East continues to be a powerhouse region for MMA, and nights like these prove the UFC is eager to keep growing its presence there.

Who Earned the Most? — Top 5 Highest Paid Fighters

1. Arman Tsarukyan — $655,000

2. Ian Machado Garry — $505,000

3. Volkan Oezdemir — $490,000

4. Dan Hooker — $370,000

5. Belal Muhammad — $370,000

Notably, finishers received major boosts thanks to performance bonuses and appearance incentives — especially on a card filled with highlight-reel stoppages.

Main Event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (Lightweight)

Result: Tsarukyan def. Hooker via submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 2, 3:34

Arman Tsarukyan walked into UFC Qatar Fight Night 265 carrying the weight of expectation on his shoulders. Ranked No. 1 in the lightweight division and widely seen as the future of 155lbs, this matchup against veteran danger-man Dan Hooker was meant to show whether Tsarukyan was truly championship material. And from the very first exchange, he made it clear that the moment didn’t intimidate him — he embraced it.

Tsarukyan opened the fight with blistering speed, immediately backing Hooker up with level changes and feints. Hooker tried to establish his jab and teep to keep distance, but Tsarukyan’s pressure was suffocating. He ducked under punches with perfect timing, chained together wrestling entries, and forced Hooker to defend takedown after takedown. The pace was classic Arman — fast, explosive, and relentless.

At one point, Hooker threatened a tight guillotine, forcing Tsarukyan to stay disciplined and fight methodically out of danger. Once free, he quickly passed to half guard, then to side control, where his top pressure broke Hooker down. In Round 2, Tsarukyan saw his opening. He slid his arm under Hooker’s neck, stepped across, tightened the squeeze, and locked in a technically perfect arm-triangle choke.

Hooker tried to fight it — he’s one of the toughest athletes in the division — but the pressure was simply too tight. Seconds later, the tap came, and Tsarukyan rose to his feet to celebrate in front of the electric Qatari crowd.

It was a complete performance: controlled, violent, and championship-caliber. This wasn’t just a win; it was a message to the division — Arman Tsarukyan is ready for Islam Makhachev.

Estimated Payouts

Arman Tsarukyan

• Base Salary: $350,000

• Win Bonus: $150,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000

• International Appearance Bonus (Qatar): $75,000

• Sponsorship/Locker Room: ~$30,000
  Estimated Total: $655,000

Dan Hooker

• Base Salary: $300,000

• No win bonus

• Qatar Appearance Bonus: $50,000

• Sponsorship/Locker Room: ~$20,000
  Estimated Total: $370,000

Hooker walked away with a respectable purse as a long-standing UFC name, but Tsarukyan took home the much bigger check — and quite possibly a future title shot.

Co-Main Event: Ian Machado Garry vs. Belal Muhammad (Welterweight)

Result: Garry def. Muhammad via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)

The co-main event showcased two completely different styles — Belal Muhammad’s pressure-heavy, wrestling-forward approach versus Ian Machado Garry’s slick movement, sharp kicks, and counterstriking. From the beginning, the pace was tactical. Belal tried to walk Garry down, force clinch exchanges, and drag the fight into his world. But Garry was dialed in.

He maintained range beautifully, stabbing Muhammad’s lead leg with oblique kicks and punishing him with straight shots whenever he entered. What stood out most was Garry’s composure. Even when Muhammad closed distance, Garry turned, circled, and reset with veteran-level awareness. His discipline didn’t crack once.

By Round 3, Belal grew increasingly frustrated, unable to secure meaningful control or land clean takedowns. Garry’s footwork, timing, and defensive grappling all held strong. When the final horn sounded, it was clear he had just earned the biggest victory of his career.

Estimated Payouts

Ian Machado Garry

• Base Salary: $220,000

• Win Bonus: $220,000

• Qatar Appearance Incentive: $50,000

• Sponsorship/Extras: ~$15,000
  Estimated Total: $505,000

Belal Muhammad

• Base Salary: $300,000

• Sponsorship/Extras: ~$20,000

• Qatar Co-Main Incentive: $50,000
  Estimated Total: $370,000

Garry’s stock continues to rise — and with it, his paychecks.

Volkan Oezdemir vs. Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)

Result: Oezdemir def. Menifield via KO (knee and punches), Round 1, 1:27

Volkan Oezdemir proved he still has some of the most lethal finishing instincts in the division. Menifield came out aggressive as usual, but Oezdemir remained calm, waiting for the perfect opening. Midway through the round, he caught Menifield rushing in and unleashed a devastating knee up the middle that sent him crashing down.

A few punches later, the referee stepped in. It was as vintage “No Time” as it gets — short, violent, and decisive.

Estimated Payouts

Volkan Oezdemir

• Base Salary: $200,000

• Win Bonus: $200,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000

• International Event Bonus: $40,000
  Estimated Total: $490,000

Alonzo Menifield

• Base Salary: $135,000

• International Event Bonus: $25,000
  Estimated Total: $160,000

Myktybek Orolbai vs. Jack Hermansson (Welterweight)

Result: Orolbai def. Hermansson via KO (punch), Round 1, 2:46

This was one of the biggest surprises of the night. Hermansson entered as the established veteran — experienced, well-rounded, and durable. But Orolbai didn’t care about rankings or expectations. He came out swinging with confidence and landed a massive punch that stunned Hermansson badly.

The follow-up shots sealed the upset, and Orolbai walked away with a career-changing win.

Estimated Payouts

Myktybek Orolbai

• Base Salary: $40,000

• Win Bonus: $40,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000

• “Show of Force” International Bonus: $20,000
  Estimated Total: $150,000

Jack Hermansson

• Base Salary: $175,000

• Event Bonus: $25,000
  Estimated Total: $200,000

Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Shamil Gaziev (Heavyweight)

Result: Cortes-Acosta def. Gaziev via KO (punch), Round 1, 1:22

Cortes-Acosta stepped in on short notice against a dangerous opponent and delivered one of the most explosive knockouts of the card. Heavyweight chaos is always a possibility, but delivering a finish this clean tends to come with nice bonus money — especially at an international event.

Estimated Payouts

Waldo Cortes-Acosta

• Base Salary: $60,000

• Short-Notice Bonus: $40,000

• Win Bonus: $60,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000
  Estimated Total: $210,000

Shamil Gaziev

• Base Salary: $50,000

• Appearance Bonus: $20,000
  Estimated Total: $70,000

Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Tagir Ulanbekov (Flyweight)

Result: Horiguchi def. Ulanbekov via rear-naked choke, Round 3, 2:18

Kyoji Horiguchi returned to the UFC cage with championship-level authority. He hurt Ulanbekov multiple times on the feet, controlled the tempo, and eventually secured a beautiful rear-naked choke after wearing him down. It was the performance of a fighter who has competed — and won — at the highest level internationally.

Estimated Payouts

Kyoji Horiguchi

• Base Salary: $180,000

• Win Bonus: $180,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000

• International Appearance Incentive: $40,000
  Estimated Total: $450,000

Tagir Ulanbekov

• Base Salary: $55,000

• Event Incentive: $15,000
  Estimated Total: $70,000

Luke Riley vs. Bogdan Grad (Featherweight)

Result: Riley def. Grad via KO, Round 2, 0:30

Luke Riley made one of the loudest statements of the night — and on a card this stacked, that says a lot. For a debuting fighter, stepping into a historic venue like UFC Qatar can be massively intimidating. The crowd, the energy, the pressure of thousands of eyes watching your every move — it’s a moment that can make or break a young athlete.

But Riley handled it like a veteran.

He fought with zero hesitation, picking Grad apart with fast combinations and a confidence that belied his experience. When Round 2 began, Riley came forward aggressively and landed a beautifully timed knockout shot that shut the lights out instantly. A debut KO on an international stage almost always turns heads, and the UFC tends to reward these kinds of explosive moments with additional locker-room incentives.

Estimated Payouts

Luke Riley

• Base: $20,000

• Win: $20,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000

• Debut International Bonus: $10,000
  Total: $100,000

Bogdan Grad

• Base: $30,000
  Total: $30,000

Nicolas Dalby vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)

Result: Dalby wins via split decision

Nicolas Dalby once again proved why he’s one of the toughest, grittiest fighters in the division. Dalby has built a career on outlasting opponents and thriving in gritty, grind-heavy matchups, and this fight was no exception. Izagakhmaev came into the bout with momentum and crisp striking, but Dalby’s experience shined through as he stayed composed under pressure, mixed in his own attacks, and pushed the pace whenever the fight got close.

The split decision reflects how competitive the contest was, but Dalby secured the key moments that mattered most. Wins like this, especially against rising talent, keep veterans like Dalby in good standing with the promotion — and that often shows in their backstage pay.

Estimated Payouts

Nicolas Dalby

• Base: $120,000

• Win Bonus: $120,000
  Total: $240,000

Saygid Izagakhmaev

• Base: $30,000
  Total: $30,000

Asu Almabayev vs. Alex Perez (Flyweight)

Result: Almabayev def. Perez via guillotine choke, Round 3, 0:22

This bout was a breakout moment for Asu Almabayev — and a tough setback for longtime flyweight contender Alex Perez. After two competitive rounds, Almabayev capitalized on a slight opening and locked in a tight guillotine early in Round 3. Submissions like this, especially over a ranked, established opponent, significantly raise a fighter’s profile.

Almabayev not only earned the biggest win of his career but likely secured himself a ranked spot and a new level of attention from fans and matchmakers alike.

Estimated Payouts

Asu Almabayev

• Base: $50,000

• Win Bonus: $50,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000
  Total: $150,000

Alex Perez

• Base: $120,000
  Total: $120,000

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev vs. Rafael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)

Result: Yakhyaev def. Cerqueira via RNC in 33 seconds

Sometimes a fight doesn’t need to last long to leave a huge impression. This was one of those cases. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev wasted absolutely no time, rushing forward with controlled aggression and catching Cerqueira in a scramble. He immediately took the back and secured a lightning-fast rear-naked choke.

A finish this quick often earns the attention of Dana White himself — and a performance bonus to match.

Estimated Payouts

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev

• Base: $20,000

• Win: $20,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000
  Total: $90,000

Rafael Cerqueira

• Base: $12,000
  Total: $12,000

Aleksandre Topuria vs. Bekzat Almakhan (Bantamweight)

Result: Topuria def. Almakhan via UD

While this fight didn’t produce a knockout or submission, it showcased strong fundamentals and composure from Aleksandre Topuria. He stayed a step ahead of Almakhan in most exchanges, controlled the tempo of the fight, and banked clear rounds to secure the unanimous decision.

For rising fighters, controlled victories like these are important for long-term development — and they build trust with the UFC matchmakers.

Estimated Payouts

Aleksandre Topuria

• Base: $40,000

• Win Bonus: $40,000
  Total: $80,000

Bekzat Almakhan

• Base: $24,000
  Total: $24,000

Ismail Naurdiev vs. Ryan Loder (Middleweight)

Result: Naurdiev def. Loder via KO, Round 1, 1:26

Naurdiev delivered one of the cleanest knockouts of the night. His timing was sharp, and his confidence was obvious from the opening seconds. After finding his rhythm, he landed a powerful punch that dropped Loder and sealed the victory.

These kinds of explosive performances often turn into big opportunities down the road, especially at middleweight, where new contenders are always needed.

Estimated Payouts

Ismail Naurdiev

• Base: $60,000

• Win Bonus: $60,000

• Performance Bonus: $50,000
  Total: $170,000

Ryan Loder

• Base: $20,000
  Total: $20,000

Nurullo Aliev vs. Shem Rock (Lightweight)

Result: Aliev def. Rock via UD

This was a strong, workmanlike performance by Nurullo Aliev. He stayed disciplined for all three rounds, controlled the fight with striking and positional grappling, and avoided any major damage. While not flashy, these kinds of wins build consistency and often lead to bigger fights.

Estimated Payouts

Nurullo Aliev

• Base: $40,000

• Win Bonus: $40,000
  Total: $80,000

Shem Rock

• Base: $20,000
  Total: $20,000

Denzel Freeman vs. Marek Bujlo (Heavyweight)

Result: Freeman def. Bujlo via UD

Freeman used good cardio and smart shot selection to secure a convincing unanimous decision in a division where one punch can change everything. Heavyweight fights that go the distance always show a mix of IQ and durability — two traits that often turn prospects into future contenders.

Estimated Payouts

Denzel Freeman

• Base: $24,000

• Win Bonus: $24,000
  Total: $48,000

Marek Bujlo

• Base: $14,000
  Total: $14,000

Final Thoughts: Why UFC Qatar Matters

UFC Qatar Fight Night 265 wasn’t just another international card — it was a statement. The roaring crowd, the polished event production, and the massive fighter payouts all send a strong message: Qatar is emerging as a major force in the MMA world.

For fighters, it means bigger paydays, more visibility, and a chance to perform on a global stage.

For the UFC, it means a new long-term home for high-profile Fight Nights and, eventually, potentially even PPV-level cards.

If this debut event is anything to go by, Qatar cards might soon become among the most anticipated stops on the UFC calendar.