RAF 8 wrestling event results included Arman Tsarukyan defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round. Kyle Snyder defeated Rizabek Aitmukhanov by points 12-6, while Zahid Valencia defeated Aiden Sinclair 8-2. Shamil Sharipov secured a pinfall victory over Anthony Cassiopi in the first round. Helen Maroulis won by technical superiority 10-0 over Alexis Janiak in round two. Additional results included Real Woods defeating Anthony Ashno 7-2, Jason Nolf beating Joey Blaze 11-2, and Vladimer Khinchegashvili winning 8-5 over Johnny DiJulius. Lance Palmer edged Cayden Henschel 3-2, Jordan Oliver shut out Mike Vanbrill 5-0, and Lucas Byrd defeated Darian Cruz 2-2 on criteria.
At RAF 8, a grappling competition held on April 19, 2026, UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan scored a dominant technical superiority victory over MMA veteran Urijah Faber, winning 13-1 in the third round.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3 professional MMA record and is currently ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, has built his reputation on relentless wrestling and output, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a rate of 3.85 per minute with 50 percent accuracy. His performance at RAF 8 was consistent with that grappling-heavy identity, as he overwhelmed Faber to the tune of a lopsided scoreline before the bout was stopped on technical grounds.
Faber, 47, is a legendary figure in MMA with a career record of 35-11, famously competing under the banner of Team Alpha Male and long associated with the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Known as "The California Kid," the American stands five feet six inches tall with a 67-inch reach. Though retired from professional MMA competition, Faber continues to participate in combat sports events. His striking output historically sat at 2.65 significant strikes per minute, and he averaged 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's commanding 13-1 scoreline underscores his wrestling credentials ahead of any future lightweight title pursuits
- Faber's willingness to compete in wrestling formats at 47 keeps him active in the combat sports landscape
- The cross-sport appearance of a top-ranked UFC lightweight at a wrestling event signals growing overlap between MMA and competitive grappling circuits
