Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round at RAF 8. The event featured multiple wrestling bouts with notable results including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhanov 12-6, and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassiopi in the first round. After the victory, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, promising to aim for a 10-0 score and stating he only gave Faber one point out of respect for his age. Tsarukyan vowed to make people forget about Covington as a wrestler. The complete card results included ten wrestling matches across various weight classes.
Arman Tsarukyan added a dominant wrestling performance to his resume on April 19, 2026, stopping Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a lopsided 13-1 score in the third round at RAF 8.
Tsarukyan, 29, enters the conversation as one of the most complete fighters in the sport. The Russian prospect carries a 23-3-0 professional MMA record and currently holds the number-one ranking in the UFC lightweight division while competing out of American Top Team. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, he lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy clip and adds 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded skillset that translated seamlessly onto the wrestling mat at RAF 8.
On the other side, Faber — widely known as "The California Kid" — is a 47-year-old American legend out of Team Alpha Male who holds a 35-11-0 career record. The five-foot-six veteran was competing well outside his primary combat sport, and Tsarukyan acknowledged that reality after the bout, noting he allowed Faber the single point purely out of respect for his age.
Following the victory, Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington, vowing to hold Covington to a 10-0 score and declaring he would make people forget Covington's reputation as a wrestler. Covington, 38, carries a 17-5-0 MMA record and averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes — the highest mark among the three fighters named — making any future wrestling matchup between the two a credible stylistic test for Tsarukyan's claims.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's dominant showing reinforces his wrestling credentials ahead of a potential lightweight title run
- A Covington matchup would pit two of the sport's elite wrestlers against each other in a high-profile crossover setting
- RAF 8 also saw Kyle Snyder defeat Rizabek Aitmukhanov 12-6 and Shamil Sharipov pin Anthony Cassiopi in round one, signaling a strong card overall
