Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber via technical superiority with a 13-1 score in the third round at RAF 8. Kyle Snyder beat Rizabek Aitmukhan by points 12-6, while Zahid Valencia defeated Aiden Sinclair 8-2. Shamil Sharipov pinned Anthony Cassiopi in the first round. Helen Marulis won via technical superiority 10-0 in the second round against Alexis Yaniak. The event featured multiple high-level wrestling matches with various finishes including decisions, technical superiority, and a pinfall.
Arman Tsarukyan showcased his elite wrestling credentials at RAF 8 on April 19, 2026, defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a dominant 13-1 score in the third round of their wrestling match at the high-level grappling event.
Tsarukyan, the 29-year-old Russian competing out of American Top Team, holds a 23-3-0 MMA record and currently sits as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he has long demonstrated exceptional wrestling as a foundation for his mixed martial arts game, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition. His performance at RAF 8 underlined why that takedown rate ranks among the elite in his division.
Faber, the 47-year-old American veteran nicknamed "The California Kid," carries a storied 35-11-0 MMA record and built his career out of Team Alpha Male. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber has remained active in combat sports well beyond his UFC tenure, though the 18-year age gap between the two men was reflected in the lopsided scoreline.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's technical superiority finish demonstrates sharp wrestling form ahead of what figures to be a pivotal stretch in his lightweight title pursuit
- The 13-1 scoreline suggests Tsarukyan controlled nearly every exchange, reinforcing his elite grappling credentials beyond MMA
- Faber's willingness to compete in pure wrestling events at 47 highlights his continued commitment to high-level competition in any format
- RAF 8 also featured notable performances from Kyle Snyder, Zahid Valencia, Shamil Sharipov, and Helen Maroulis, underlining the card's broad competitive depth
