Arman Tsarukyan dominates Urijah Faber at RAF 08 wrestling event

Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber crossed paths outside of MMA competition at RAF 08, a wrestling tournament held on April 19, 2026, where Tsarukyan defeated Faber by technical superiority with a 13-1 score in the third round.

Tsarukyan, 29, is currently the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, competing out of American Top Team. The Russian fighter carries a professional MMA record of 23-3-0 and has built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded athletes in the 155-pound division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, a figure that underlines the wrestling pedigree he put on display at RAF 08.

Faber, known as "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old American veteran fighting out of Team Alpha Male with a career MMA record of 35-11-0. The former WEC bantamweight champion stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach. Though long established as a skilled grappler and submission threat in MMA — averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes — he faced a significant competitive challenge against a younger, elite-level wrestler in Tsarukyan.

The event also featured other high-level wrestling bouts, including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassiopi in the first round, pointing to a card that drew notable names across multiple weight classes.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's dominant wrestling display reinforces his credentials as a complete fighter ahead of any future lightweight title pursuits
• The result highlights the competitive gap between an active top-ranked MMA contender and a 47-year-old veteran on the mat
• RAF 08 is a pure wrestling competition, meaning no MMA records or rankings are affected by these outcomes