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 event featured multiple high-profile wrestling bouts including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, Zachid Valencia beating Aiden Sinclair 8-2, and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassiopi in the first round. Other notable results included Helen Maroulis defeating Alexis Janiak 10-0 via technical superiority in round two, Real Woods beating Anthony Ashno 7-2, and Jason Nolf defeating Joey Blaze 11-2. The card also featured victories for Vladimir Khinchegashvili, Lance Palmer, Jordan Oliver, and Lucas Byrd in their respective matches.
Arman Tsarukyan added a wrestling victory to his combat sports resume at RAF 8 on April 19, 2026, defeating MMA veteran Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a dominant 13-1 score in the third round of their grappling bout.
Tsarukyan, ranked number one in the UFC lightweight division, carries a 23-3-0 professional MMA record and has established himself as one of the most complete fighters in the 155-pound class. The 29-year-old Russian, who trains out of American Top Team, averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition and lands significant strikes at a 50 percent accuracy rate — a grappling and striking combination that translated clearly onto the wrestling mat at RAF 8.
Faber, the 47-year-old American icon known as "The California Kid," holds a career MMA record of 35-11-0 and built his reputation largely on wrestling and submission grappling during his years competing for Team Alpha Male. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber has always been undersized against most opponents, and the gap against the longer Tsarukyan — who carries a 72-inch reach — proved significant in their matchup.
RAF 8 was a stacked wrestling card beyond the Tsarukyan-Faber contest. Kyle Snyder defeated Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, Helen Maroulis earned a technical superiority victory over Alexis Janiak 10-0 in round two, and Jason Nolf topped Joey Blaze 11-2. Lance Palmer, the 38-year-old American with a 23-6-0 MMA record, also picked up a victory on the evening. Shamil Sharipov, Real Woods, Vladimir Khinchegashvili, Jordan Oliver, and Lucas Byrd each recorded wins in their respective bouts.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's wrestling performance reinforces his credentials as a top-tier grappler ahead of any future lightweight title pursuits
- Faber's willingness to compete in wrestling crossover events at 47 keeps the former WEC champion active in combat sports
- RAF 8 continues the trend of active MMA fighters testing themselves in pure wrestling competition
