Arman Tsarukyan defeats Urijah Faber 13-1 at RAF with dramatic throw

Arman Tsarukyan added another dominant performance to his resume on April 19, 2026, this time outside the Octagon, defeating Urijah Faber by a lopsided 13-1 score at a RAF wrestling event in what became the standout moment from UFC RAF this week.

Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3 professional MMA record and currently sits as the number one ranked lightweight contender out of Russia, competing for American Top Team. The performance at the wrestling event was consistent with his grappling credentials inside the cage, where he averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and strikes at a 50 percent accuracy rate, landing 3.85 significant strikes per minute. His dominance on the mat was on full display, highlighted by throwing Faber clean off the mat and landing an amplitude throw that drew significant attention from both wrestling and MMA audiences.

Faber, the 47-year-old veteran known as "The California Kid," carries a 35-11 professional record and built his reputation as one of the most celebrated fighters to come out of the United States. Operating out of Team Alpha Male, Faber stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and has long been respected for his competitive toughness across combat sports disciplines.

Why it matters

• Tsarukyan's grappling credentials are further reinforced ahead of any potential lightweight title pursuit
• The crossover event highlights growing MMA interest in competitive wrestling formats
• A 13-1 margin underscores a significant physical and technical gap between Tsarukyan at his peak and the 47-year-old Faber in a wrestling context
• Tsarukyan's 72-inch reach advantage over Faber's 67 inches likely contributed to his leverage in throws