Hooker vs Ortega: 11 weeks after his KO loss in Paris, the New Zealander returns at UFC Qatar
Hooker vs Ortega is set for UFC Qatar on November 21 in Doha. Dan Hooker will face Brian Ortega at lightweight, 11 weeks after being knocked out by Salahdine Parnasse in Paris. The New Zealander has lost 3 in a row inside the distance and says he pushed for a quick return himself. Ortega is still waiting for his 1st fight at lightweight.
Full event coverage: UFC returns to Doha on November 21, a year after selling out its Qatar debut
Key takeaways
- Dan Hooker (24-15) faces Brian Ortega (16-5) at lightweight at UFC Qatar on November 21 at ABHA Arena in Doha.
- Hooker has lost 3 in a row, to Arman Tsarukyan, Benoit Saint Denis and Salahdine Parnasse.
- Ortega withdrew from UFC 331 in September after a cut suffered in training.
Hooker vs Ortega: what was announced
Date and venue
The fight takes place on Saturday, November 21 at ABHA Arena in Doha, on the UFC Qatar card. It is contested at lightweight.
Its place on the card
Jiri Prochazka vs Navajo Stirling is the main event, Aljamain Sterling vs Kevin Vallejos the co-main. Hooker vs Ortega comes right behind in the announced order, on a card of 9 fights so far.
A return to Doha
Hooker knows the city: it was in Doha, in November 2025, that he was submitted by Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of the UFC’s 1st show in Qatar.
Dan Hooker, a quick turnaround after 3 losses
The streak
After Tsarukyan, Hooker lost by TKO to Benoit Saint Denis in February, then by KO at 2:35 of round 1 to Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris on September 5. His record is 24-15.
Why come back so soon
Asked by Submission Radio, he called it an opportunity. He says the loss did not dishearten him and that he harassed the UFC to get back out there.
His condition
According to MMASucka, Hooker insists he did not take heavy damage in Paris. At 36, he is taking a risk with a 4th outing in 12 months.
I just didn't get that disheartened, and the opportunity came up, and I harassed the UFC to get me back out there.
Brian Ortega, a lightweight debut still to come
The September withdrawal
Ortega was due to face Renato Moicano at UFC 331 on September 19. He pulled out after a cut near the eye suffered in training.
The move up
The 35-year-old American, 16-5, left featherweight after repeated trouble on the scale. Doha should mark his real start at lightweight.
Follow the fight
Hooker’s and Ortega’s profiles, their records and our lightweight rating are in the FightHub app.
- UFC returns to Doha on November 21, a year after selling out its Qatar debut
- Moicano vs Ortega 2: nine years after the guillotine, Moicano thinks Brian Ortega has gone backwards
- Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy: a title shot, and the one way to beat the knockout artist
- Brian Ortega calls the UFC ‘a marketing machine’ and says the best are being kept out
