Arman Tsarukyan delivered a dominant performance against Urijah Faber at a RAF wrestling event, winning 13-1. During the match, Tsarukyan executed a dramatic sequence where he threw Faber beyond the boundaries of the mat before performing a high-amplitude throw. The victory represents a significant moment in Tsarukyan's wrestling competition outside of MMA. The lopsided score demonstrates Tsarukyan's overwhelming technical superiority throughout the bout. The Armenian fighter's performance was highlighted as one of the main news items from the UFC RAF week.
Arman Tsarukyan showcased his wrestling credentials away from the Octagon during UFC RAF week, defeating Urijah Faber 13-1 in a grappling bout at a RAF wrestling event on April 19, 2026. The performance turned heads when Tsarukyan launched Faber completely off the mat before following up with a high-amplitude throw, underscoring a level of technical dominance that the scoreline alone barely captures.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters any competition with serious pedigree. The Russian-born fighter out of American Top Team holds a 23-3 professional 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 averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes inside the cage — among the most active wrestling outputs in the lightweight division — and lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, making him dangerous on the feet as well as on the mat.
Faber, known as "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old veteran and MMA legend carrying a career record of 35-11. The Sacramento native stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and built his reputation largely on submission grappling, averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes over his career. He has long been retired from active MMA competition, and his willingness to step onto the wrestling mat against a fighter of Tsarukyan's caliber speaks to his competitive spirit even at this stage.
Why it matters
- The 13-1 margin illustrates the vast gulf in current competitive wrestling level between the two men
- For Tsarukyan, the performance reinforces his grappling credentials heading into whatever lightweight title opportunity awaits
- The bout served as one of the headline moments from UFC RAF week, keeping Tsarukyan visible on the global stage during a high-profile promotional period
