Arman Tsarukyan secured a dominant victory over Urijah Faber at RAF 08, winning 13-1 by technical superiority in the third round of their wrestling match. Tsarukyan threw Faber outside the mat and executed a high-amplitude throw during the contest. After the bout, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, promising to attempt a 10-0 score and stating he only gave Faber one point out of respect for his veteran status. The event featured several other wrestling matches including Kyle Snyder, Zahid Valencia, and Helen Maroulis.
Arman Tsarukyan stepped outside the MMA cage and onto the wrestling mat at RAF 08 on April 19, 2026, dismantling Urijah Faber by a score of 13-1 via technical superiority in the third round of their grappling contest.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3 MMA record and is currently ranked first in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built a reputation as a well-rounded threat, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy alongside 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes inside the cage. His performance at RAF 08 underscored his wrestling credentials, as he threw Faber off the mat entirely and landed a high-amplitude throw in what became a one-sided affair.
Faber, the 47-year-old veteran known as "The California Kid," carries a professional MMA record of 35-11 and built his legacy competing primarily in the bantamweight division. A longtime member of Team Alpha Male and a fighter long associated with elite grappling, Faber's lone point on the scoreboard came by Tsarukyan's own admission — the younger man stated afterward he allowed it out of respect for Faber's veteran status.
Following the match, Tsarukyan publicly called out Colby Covington, vowing to pursue a 10-0 score against the former welterweight title contender. Covington, 38, owns a 17-5 MMA record and is known for his relentless wrestling pressure, averaging 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes in the cage.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant wrestling display reinforces his credentials as a complete fighter at the top of the lightweight division
- His callout of Covington sets up a potential cross-discipline rivalry between two wrestlers with contrasting styles
- The event placed several prominent combat sports athletes, including Kyle Snyder, Zahid Valencia, and Helen Maroulis, on the same card, signaling growing crossover appeal between wrestling and MMA communities
