Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 at RAF08. During the match, Tsarukyan threw Faber outside the mat and delivered an amplitude throw as he had promised at the press conference. After the victory, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to pursue a 10-0 score and not give him a single point. Tsarukyan explained he gave Faber one point out of respect for his age, but against Covington he would fight with everything he has. He stated that people have already forgotten about Covington as a fighter, and he plans to make them forget about him as a wrestler too.
Arman Tsarukyan put on a commanding performance at RAF08 on April 19, 2026, defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a lopsided score of 13-1, then immediately called out Colby Covington in the aftermath.
Tsarukyan, 29, competes out of American Top Team and carries a 23-3-0 professional record while holding the number-one ranking in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter, who stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, is one of the sport's most well-rounded threats, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate while also posting 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. True to a promise he made at the pre-fight press conference, Tsarukyan threw Faber off the mat entirely at one point and landed an amplitude throw that underscored his physical dominance throughout the contest.
Faber, the 47-year-old American veteran nicknamed "The California Kid," holds a career record of 35-11-0 and trains with Team Alpha Male. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber has long been celebrated as one of combat sports' enduring figures. Tsarukyan acknowledged that legacy after the final score was read, stating he allowed Faber the single point purely out of respect for his age.
After the victory, Tsarukyan set his sights squarely on Colby Covington, the 38-year-old American wrestler from MMA Masters who carries a 17-5-0 record. Covington, standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes and is widely regarded as one of the sport's elite grapplers. Tsarukyan was blunt in his assessment, suggesting that people have already forgotten Covington as a fighter and that he intends to make them forget about him as a wrestler as well. He vowed to pursue a 10-0 score against Covington and give him nothing.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant scoreline strengthens his case as the top lightweight contender
- A potential Covington matchup would cross divisional lines, adding intrigue to the callout
- Tsarukyan's grappling volume makes Covington's wrestler identity a direct target
