Arman Tsarukyan removed from commercial flight, takes private jet to RAF 08

Arman Tsarukyan's journey to RAF 08 took an unexpected detour after he and his team were removed from a commercial flight in the United States for violating airline rules. According to reports, members of his party were using their phones and had failed to stow tray tables during takeoff, prompting the removal. Tsarukyan was subsequently forced to charter a private jet to reach his destination, though the disruption has not affected his scheduled grappling match against Urijah Faber, which remains on the card in two days.

Tsarukyan, 29, enters the contest as one of the most accomplished fighters in the lightweight division, currently ranked first at 155 pounds. The Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, carries a 23-3 record and brings considerable grappling credentials to this format, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. His striking output is equally sharp, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.

Faber, the 47-year-old American veteran known as "The California Kid," holds a 35-11 record built over a long career competing primarily at bantamweight and featherweight. Training with Team Alpha Male, Faber stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and has long been regarded as one of the sport's most durable and technically sound competitors. He averages 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.8 submission attempts in the same span.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight in the UFC, giving this grappling contest significant visibility.
• Faber is a fan-favorite veteran whose experience on the mat adds credibility to the matchup.
• The travel incident raised questions about Tsarukyan's preparation, though his camp has indicated the match proceeds as scheduled.