Tsarukyan defeats Faber 13-1 with mat throw at RAF wrestling event

Arman Tsarukyan added another highlight to his resume away from the octagon, defeating Urijah Faber by a dominant 13-1 score at a RAF wrestling event on April 19, 2026. The match featured Tsarukyan throwing Faber beyond the mat boundaries and landing a high-amplitude throw that underscored his grappling credentials.

Tsarukyan, 29, is currently the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, representing Russia out of American Top Team. He carries a professional MMA record of 23-3-0 and is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 155-pound division. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he averages 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and piles up 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes, making his wrestling performance at this event entirely consistent with his established skill set.

Faber, known as The California Kid, is a 47-year-old veteran out of Team Alpha Male with a career record of 35-11-0. The American legend stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and built his reputation largely as a bantamweight and featherweight, averaging 2.65 significant strikes per minute across his career. His appearance at a wrestling-format event against a fighter of Tsarukyan's caliber reflects the competitive spirit he has maintained well beyond his prime UFC years.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's dominant wrestling performance reinforces the grappling threat he brings to the lightweight title picture
• The 13-1 scoreline and high-amplitude throw highlight a clear physical and technical gap between the two fighters at this stage of their careers
• For Faber, competing in non-MMA combat sports formats remains consistent with his continued activity since stepping back from full-time UFC competition