Arman Tsarukyan defeats Urijah Faber 13-1 at RAF 8 wrestling event

Arman Tsarukyan added a wrestling accolade to his combat sports resume on April 19, 2026, defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round at the RAF 8 wrestling tournament.

Tsarukyan, 29, enters 2026 as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in MMA, carrying a professional record of 23-3-0 while competing out of American Top Team. The Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most complete athletes, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent inside the cage. His performance at RAF 8 underscores the legitimate grappling foundation beneath those numbers.

Faber, competing at 47 years old, remains one of the most decorated veterans in combat sports history. The California Kid holds a 35-11-0 MMA record and built his career representing Team Alpha Male out of the United States. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber has long been regarded as a tenacious competitor, and his willingness to step onto a wrestling mat against a younger, ranked contender speaks to that competitive drive. He averaged 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his MMA career.

RAF 8 also featured Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan by a 12-6 decision, while Shamil Sharipov earned a first-round pin over Anthony Cassiopi, rounding out a card that spanned multiple weight classes and featured a range of outcomes including decisions, technical falls, and pins.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's 13-1 technical superiority win demonstrates high-level competitive wrestling ability beyond MMA training rooms
• Faber, at 47, continues to test himself in grappling competition against elite-level opponents
• The result reinforces Tsarukyan's credentials as one of the most well-rounded athletes in the lightweight division