Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber with a dominant 13-1 score in their wrestling match at UFC RAF. The bout featured Tsarukyan throwing Faber off the mat and executing an amplitude throw during the contest. This was the main news from UFC RAF this week. The match showcased Tsarukyan's superior wrestling skills against the former UFC bantamweight title challenger. Details about the specific round or finish were not provided in this brief report.
Arman Tsarukyan handed Urijah Faber a lopsided 13-1 defeat in a wrestling match at UFC RAF, with the lightweight contender demonstrating clear physical and technical superiority over the veteran bantamweight throughout the contest. Tsarukyan punctuated the performance with an amplitude throw and at one point threw Faber clean off the mat.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters 2026 as the top-ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a 23-3 professional record under the American Top Team banner. The Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a notably long 72-inch reach and has built his MMA reputation on elite wrestling, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent. His output in this grappling-only setting came as little surprise to anyone familiar with his ground game.
Faber, known as "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old American veteran representing Team Alpha Male with a 35-11-0 career record. At five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, the former UFC bantamweight title challenger has long been respected for his own wrestling credentials, averaging 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. However, the 18-year age gap and Tsarukyan's elite modern grappling proved an insurmountable combination on this occasion.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan reinforced his standing as one of the most complete grapplers in the lightweight division ahead of any potential title shot.
- The 13-1 scoreline and amplitude throw highlight a significant wrestling gap between the two competitors.
- For Faber, the result is a notable loss in a discipline that defined much of his career reputation.
