Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber at RAF 8, winning by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round of their wrestling match. The full RAF 8 card featured multiple wrestling matches with notable results including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhanov 12-6 by points, and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassioppoli in the first round. Other winners included Zahid Valencia, Helen Maroulis, Real Woods, Jason Nolf, Vladimer Khinchegashvili, Lance Palmer, Jordan Oliver, and Lucas Byrd. The event showcased high-level wrestling competition with victories coming via points, technical superiority, and pinfall.
Arman Tsarukyan stepped outside the octagon and onto the wrestling mat at RAF 8 on April 19, 2026, defeating MMA veteran Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a lopsided 13-1 score in the third round of their wrestling match.
Tsarukyan, 29, is currently the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, representing Russia and training out of American Top Team. He carries a professional MMA record of 23-3 and has built a reputation as one of the division's most complete fighters, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 50 percent accuracy rate. His grappling credentials were on full display against a decorated opponent, and the margin of victory underlined the dominance he showed throughout the bout.
Faber, the 47-year-old former WEC bantamweight champion known as "The California Kid," holds an MMA record of 35-11 and remains one of the sport's most recognizable figures. Fighting out of his longtime home of Team Alpha Male, Faber stands five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach. Though his MMA career demonstrated consistent submission volume and a willingness to engage in grappling exchanges, the wrestling format proved a difficult environment against a younger, elite-level opponent.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant performance reinforces his reputation as one of the best wrestlers currently competing in the UFC's lightweight division.
- Faber's willingness to compete in a pure wrestling setting at 47 highlights his continued engagement with combat sports, though the result showed the gap against active top-level competition.
- The RAF 8 card also featured high-profile wrestling names including Kyle Snyder, Helen Maroulis, and Jason Nolf, placing both fighters in elite grappling company.
