Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber via technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round at RAF 08. The event featured multiple wrestling matches across various weight classes. Other notable results included Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan by points (12-6), Zachid Valencia defeating Aiden Sinclair by points (8-2), and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassiopi in the first round. Helen Maroulis won via technical superiority (10-0) in the second round against Alexis Yaniak. The event showcased high-level wrestling competition outside of traditional MMA formats.
Arman Tsarukyan added a dominant wrestling performance to his 2026 résumé on April 19, defeating MMA veteran Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a 13-1 score in the third round at the RAF 08 wrestling event.
Tsarukyan, currently ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division, has long demonstrated elite grappling credentials inside the Octagon. The 29-year-old Russian, who competes out of American Top Team and carries a 23-3 professional MMA record, backs up his striking output — 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy — with a wrestling base that produces 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. His performance at RAF 08 underscored that those numbers reflect genuine mat proficiency, not just cage-assisted wrestling.
On the other side, Faber remains one of the most decorated veterans in combat sports history. The 47-year-old California native, who built his career with Team Alpha Male and owns a 35-11 MMA record, has been retired from professional competition for some time. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber was giving up significant physical advantages against the longer, younger Tsarukyan.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's lopsided margin — 13-1 through three rounds — reinforces his standing as one of the most complete fighters in the lightweight division ahead of any future title pursuit.
- The event highlights a growing trend of active MMA fighters competing in traditional wrestling formats to sharpen their grappling under rulsets that reward pure technique.
- Faber's willingness to test himself in a wrestling-specific competition at 47 is notable, even if the result reflected the wide experience gap between the two men in that format.
