Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber with a dominant 13-1 score at a UFC RAF wrestling event. During the match, Tsarukyan threw Faber outside the boundaries of the mat and executed a high-amplitude throw. This was presented as the main news from the UFC RAF event of the week. The performance demonstrated Tsarukyan's wrestling credentials in a competitive setting outside of MMA competition.
Arman Tsarukyan showcased his wrestling pedigree at a UFC RAF event on April 19, 2026, dismantling MMA legend Urijah Faber by a lopsided 13-1 score in a competitive wrestling match. The performance included a high-amplitude throw and a moment where Tsarukyan sent Faber completely off the boundaries of the mat.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters 2026 as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a professional MMA record of 23-3. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, has built a reputation as one of the division's most complete grapplers. His MMA numbers back that up — he averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a rate of 3.85 per minute with 50 percent accuracy. His 72-inch reach gives him a notable physical edge in most matchups.
Faber, nicknamed "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old American veteran with a career record of 35-11. A former WEC Featherweight Champion and longtime fixture at 135 pounds, Faber built his legacy at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento. He stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and has averaged 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes across his MMA career. Competing in a wrestling-specific format against a fighter nearly two decades his junior represented a significant physical challenge.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant score reinforces his credentials as an elite wrestler, not just an MMA fighter
- The result adds to his profile as the top-ranked lightweight contender heading into any future title pursuit
- Faber, long retired from regular MMA competition, showed willingness to compete in alternative formats at age 47
- The margin of victory — 13-1 — underlines the gap between Tsarukyan and the field in wrestling-specific competition
