Arman Tsarukyan emerged victorious over Urijah Faber in their wrestling bout. The match represented a crossover appearance for Tsarukyan, who is primarily known as an MMA fighter competing in UFC's lightweight division. The result adds to Tsarukyan's combat sports resume beyond mixed martial arts. Specific details about the scoring or finish were not provided in this brief announcement.
Arman Tsarukyan stepped outside the Octagon on April 19, 2026, and came away with a victory over Urijah Faber in a wrestling match, adding a crossover combat sports result to his growing resume.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters any grappling competition with serious credentials. The Russian fighter out of American Top Team holds a 23-3 MMA record and sits as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he is one of the division's most well-rounded threats, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 50 percent — numbers that reflect a fighter equally dangerous on the feet and on the mat.
Faber, the 47-year-old American known as "The California Kid," is one of combat sports' most enduring figures. Representing Team Alpha Male, the five-foot-six veteran carries a career MMA record of 35-11 and built his reputation on a relentless blend of wrestling and submission grappling, averaging 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes across his professional career. His willingness to compete in crossover formats well into his mid-40s speaks to a continued passion for competition.
Specific details on how the wrestling match was scored or decided were not disclosed in the initial announcement.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant takedown rate translated into success in a pure wrestling context, underlining his grappling base ahead of any future UFC lightweight title pursuit.
- For Faber, the result comes as part of a long post-prime competitive career that has spanned multiple combat sports formats.
- The bout adds visibility to crossover wrestling events featuring active UFC contenders.
