Arman Tsarukyan delivered a dominant performance against Urijah Faber at RAF 8, winning by technical superiority with a 13-1 score in the third round. The bout featured spectacular action including Tsarukyan throwing Faber outside the mat boundaries and executing a high-amplitude throw. The lopsided victory showcased Tsarukyan's wrestling superiority over the MMA legend. The match was positioned as one of the main attractions of the UFC-affiliated RAF event. Tsarukyan's overwhelming performance demonstrated the significant skill gap between the two fighters.
Arman Tsarukyan put on a commanding display at RAF 8 on April 19, 2026, defeating MMA legend Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a lopsided 13-1 score in the third round of their grappling contest.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the encounter as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a 23-3 professional record while competing out of American Top Team. The Russian standout from Akhalkalaki stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking output of 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. His performance at RAF 8 underlined those credentials, as he reportedly threw Faber outside the mat boundaries and executed a high-amplitude throw en route to the dominant scoreline.
Faber, widely regarded as one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history, is 47 years old and holds a career record of 35-11. The California Kid, representing Team Alpha Male, stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach and built his legacy largely in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. He averages 2.65 significant strikes per minute and has historically been a constant submission threat, recording 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's wrestling dominance was on full display, reinforcing his credentials as a top-tier UFC lightweight contender
- The skill gap highlighted in the 13-1 scoreline demonstrates how far Tsarukyan has developed as an all-around grappler
- For Faber, the result serves as a sobering reminder of the generational distance between his competitive peak and today's elite lightweight talent
- The RAF event's positioning as a UFC-affiliated showcase gave Tsarukyan a high-profile stage outside the Octagon
