Arman Tsarukyan dominates Urijah Faber 13-1 with throws outside the mat

Arman Tsarukyan added another highlight to his 2026 calendar with a commanding 13-1 victory over Urijah Faber in a wrestling match at RAF, a result that included throws beyond the mat boundaries and at least one high-amplitude throw that drew attention at the event.

Tsarukyan, 29, enters any grappling competition with serious credentials. The Russian lightweight holds a 23-3 professional MMA record and sits at number one in the UFC lightweight rankings, training out of American Top Team. His MMA game reflects a wrestler's foundation — he averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in the cage, pairs it with 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute, and connects on half of his striking attempts. A reach of 72 inches, or 183 cm, gives him length that plays well in both disciplines.

Faber, the 47-year-old veteran known as The California Kid, has long been one of the most decorated grapplers in MMA history. The Team Alpha Male founder carries a 35-11-0 professional record and built his reputation on slick submission work, averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career. At five-foot-six and 168 cm, with a 67-inch reach, he has always had to navigate size disadvantages, and that challenge was apparent again here against a younger, longer opponent.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's dominance on the mat reinforces his status as a complete fighter ahead of any potential lightweight title pursuit
• The 13-1 scoreline and out-of-bounds throws suggest Faber had few answers for Tsarukyan's wrestling intensity
• For Faber at 47, the result underscores how steep the climb is against elite active competitors from the current UFC roster