Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by a dominant 13-1 score in a UFC RAF wrestling match. The bout featured Tsarukyan throwing Faber off the mat and executing an amplitude throw during the contest. This was presented as the main news from UFC RAF this week. The post provides limited context about the format or rules of the wrestling match. The lopsided score demonstrates Tsarukyan's overwhelming superiority in the grappling-only format.
Arman Tsarukyan put on a dominant display at UFC RAF, defeating Urijah Faber by a lopsided 13-1 score in a wrestling-only grappling match. The contest highlighted Tsarukyan's elite grappling ability, with the Russian throwing Faber off the mat and landing an amplitude throw during the bout.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters 2026 as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC lightweight division, currently ranked first in the division with a professional record of 23-3-0. Fighting out of American Top Team, the Russian carries a 72-inch reach and backs up his striking reputation with equally impressive grappling, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. That takedown volume translated directly into the kind of controlling, physical performance on display against Faber.
Faber, the 47-year-old veteran known as "The California Kid," holds a career record of 35-11-0 and built his reputation as one of the most decorated fighters in bantamweight and featherweight history under the Team Alpha Male banner. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber has long been respected for his grappling credentials, making the 13-1 margin all the more striking as a measure of the gap between the two competitors in this format.
Why it matters
- The result underscores Tsarukyan's well-rounded grappling game ahead of any potential lightweight title pursuits.
- Faber, competing well into his mid-40s, faced a significant physical and athletic disadvantage against a prime contender.
- The RAF wrestling format offered a rare side-by-side technical comparison of two fighters from very different eras and weight classes.
