Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber at RAF08 wrestling event via technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round. The event featured multiple wrestling matches with other notable results including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan by points 12-6, and Zachid Valencia defeating Aiden Sinclair 8-2. The card also saw Shamil Sharipov defeat Anthony Cassiopppi by pinfall in round one. This was a wrestling competition separate from MMA, featuring current and former mixed martial arts fighters competing in pure wrestling format.
Arman Tsarukyan added a wrestling victory to his combat sports resume on April 19, 2026, defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority at the RAF08 wrestling event, finishing the third round with a commanding 13-1 score.
Tsarukyan, 29, is one of the top mixed martial artists currently competing, sitting at number one in the UFC lightweight division with a professional MMA record of 23-3. The Russia-born fighter trains out of American Top Team and has built his MMA reputation on a relentless offensive game, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy alongside an impressive 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. His showing at RAF08 demonstrated that his grappling credentials extend well beyond the cage.
Faber, 47, is an MMA veteran and longtime fan favorite who competed primarily at bantamweight and featherweight during his professional career, compiling a 35-11 record and becoming synonymous with Team Alpha Male, the Sacramento-based gym he founded. Known as "The California Kid," the five-foot-six fighter stood at a significant reach disadvantage against Tsarukyan, whose 72-inch reach stretches five inches beyond Faber's 67-inch span. Faber averaged 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes across his MMA career, figures that underscore the gap in wrestling output between the two competitors on this occasion.
RAF08 was a pure wrestling competition featuring current and former MMA fighters. Tsarukyan's result was one of several notable outcomes on the card, which also saw Kyle Snyder defeat Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6 on points, Zachid Valencia beat Aiden Sinclair 8-2, and Shamil Sharipov submit Anthony Cassioppi by pinfall in the first round.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant score reinforces his elite wrestling base ahead of any future lightweight title pursuit
- Faber's willingness to compete in pure wrestling at 47 highlights his continued engagement with combat sports
- The event signals growing crossover interest between MMA talent and traditional wrestling competition formats
