Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber via technical superiority with a dominant 13-1 score in the third round at RAF 08. The wrestling event featured multiple high-profile matches including Kyle Snyder's victory over Rizabek Aitmukhan by decision (12-6) and Shamil Sharipov's pinfall victory over Anthony Cassiopi in the first round. Helen Marulis defeated Alexis Yaniak by technical superiority (10-0) in the second round. The event showcased a series of freestyle and folkstyle wrestling matches with various outcomes including decisions, technical falls, and pins. Tsarukyan's dominant performance was one of the highlights of the evening.
Arman Tsarukyan picked up a dominant victory over Urijah Faber at RAF 08 on April 19, 2026, finishing the match via technical superiority with a 13-1 score in the third round at the wrestling event.
Tsarukyan, 29, is best known as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in the UFC, carrying a professional MMA record of 23-3-0 and competing out of American Top Team. The Russian fighter stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and brings considerable wrestling credentials to complement his MMA game, where 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 performance at RAF 08 underlined those wrestling abilities, controlling Faber throughout their contest before securing the technical fall.
Faber, widely recognized by his nickname "The California Kid," is a 47-year-old American veteran affiliated with Team Alpha Male. His MMA record stands at 35-11-0, a career built largely in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber has long been regarded as one of the sport's most decorated fighters, though the RAF 08 result showed the challenge of competing against a younger, elite-level grappler.
The event also featured several other notable results, including Kyle Snyder's decision win over Rizabek Aitmukhan by a 12-6 score, Shamil Sharipov's first-round pinfall over Anthony Cassiopi, and Helen Marulis defeating Alexis Yaniak via technical superiority at 10-0 in the second round.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's wrestling credentials are reinforced ahead of a potential UFC lightweight title shot
- Faber, at 47, continues to compete at high-profile events across combat sports disciplines
- The RAF 08 card demonstrated a strong crossover between elite MMA athletes and competitive freestyle and folkstyle wrestling
