RAF 08 wrestling event results: Tsarukyan defeats Faber 13-1

Arman Tsarukyan added a wrestling accolade to his mixed martial arts résumé at the RAF 08 tournament, defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a lopsided score of 13-1 in the third round. Full results from the event, held on April 19, 2026, have now been released.

Tsarukyan, 29, currently holds the number-one contender ranking in the UFC lightweight division and carries a professional MMA record of 23-3. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, has built a reputation as one of the most well-rounded athletes in the 155-pound class. His MMA numbers reflect his grappling base — he averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — and his wrestling performance at RAF 08 was consistent with that profile.

Faber, known as "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old veteran out of Team Alpha Male with a career MMA record of 35-11. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, he has long been recognized for his well-rounded fighting ability across his lengthy career, though the gap in wrestling output against a younger elite contender like Tsarukyan proved significant on the mat.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's dominant showing reinforces his credentials as a top-tier wrestler heading into his lightweight title pursuits.
• Faber, competing well past his UFC prime at 47, demonstrated continued willingness to test himself in competitive grappling settings.
• Other notable results from RAF 08 included Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, Zahid Valencia defeating Aiden Sinclair 8-2, and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassioppi in the first round.