Arman Tsarukyan delivered a dominant performance against Urijah Faber, winning 13-1 in their wrestling match at RAF. During the bout, Tsarukyan threw Faber beyond the boundaries of the mat and executed a high-amplitude throw. The post highlights the physical dominance displayed by Tsarukyan in the match. This was described as the main UFC RAF news of the week, though it occurred in a wrestling context rather than MMA competition.
Arman Tsarukyan demonstrated his wrestling pedigree well outside the Octagon, dismantling UFC legend Urijah Faber by a 13-1 scoreline at a Russian Army Festival (RAF) wrestling event, with the match drawing significant attention as a marquee moment from the week's UFC RAF coverage.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters this spotlight riding a strong wave of momentum in the UFC's lightweight division, where he sits ranked number one as a contender. The Russian fighter, training out of American Top Team, carries a 23-3 professional MMA record and backs it up with elite grappling credentials. His takedown rate of 3.26 per 15 minutes is among the best in the lightweight division, and his striking output of 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy reflects a well-rounded skill set. His 72-inch reach — notable for his five-foot-seven frame — gives him physical advantages in the clinch and on the feet.
Faber, the 47-year-old Team Alpha Male founder and former WEC bantamweight champion known as "The California Kid," holds a storied 35-11 career MMA record. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, the American veteran has long been celebrated for his own grappling ability, averaging 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes across his MMA career. However, this wrestling session illustrated the gulf between a decorated veteran well into retirement and one of the sport's elite active competitors.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant wrestling display reinforces his credentials as a genuine lightweight title threat
- The lopsided 13-1 score underlines his takedown and throwing ability, which averages among the highest in his division
- Faber, 18 years Tsarukyan's senior, served as a high-profile measuring stick in a non-MMA setting
