Arman Tsarukyan delivered a dominant wrestling performance against Urijah Faber, winning 13-1 at the UFC RAF event. During the match, Tsarukyan threw Faber outside the mat boundaries and executed a high-amplitude throw, showcasing his superior grappling skills. The lopsided score reflects Tsarukyan's complete control throughout the wrestling bout. This was highlighted as one of the main news items from the UFC RAF event this week. The performance further establishes Tsarukyan's credentials as an elite grappler in mixed martial arts.
Arman Tsarukyan showcased elite-level grappling at the UFC RAF wrestling event, defeating Urijah Faber by a commanding 13-1 score in a contest that was never close.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters this period as the number-one ranked lightweight contender with a professional MMA record of 23-3-0. The Russian fighter, who stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and trains out of American Top Team, has long been regarded as one of the division's most dangerous grapplers. His MMA statistics back that reputation, with an impressive 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 50 percent. At the RAF event, he put those wrestling credentials on full display, throwing Faber beyond the mat boundaries and landing a high-amplitude throw that highlighted his technical superiority throughout the match.
Faber, known as "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old veteran from the United States who competes out of Team Alpha Male and carries a career record of 35-11-0. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber built his legacy as one of combat sports' most durable and decorated competitors. His MMA output includes 2.65 significant strikes landed per minute and 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes, numbers that reflect a well-rounded skill set, though the scoring gap in this wrestling-specific format underscored the difference in current competitive levels between the two men.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant 13-1 score reinforces his credentials as an elite grappler at the top of the lightweight division
- The performance adds to his profile at a critical stage in his contendership push in a stacked 155-pound weight class
- The style matchup exposed a significant reach and wrestling output advantage for Tsarukyan, who holds a five-inch reach edge over Faber
