At RAF 8, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round. The wrestling event also featured several other notable results including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, Zahid Valencia beating Aiden Sinclair 8-2, and Shamil Sharipov defeating Anthony Cassiopi by pinfall in the first round. Helen Maroulis won against Alexis Janiak by technical superiority 10-0 in the second round. Additional results included victories by Real Woods, Jason Nolf, Vladimer Khinchegashvili, Lance Palmer, Jordan Oliver, and Lucas Byrd in their respective matches.
Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber crossed paths at RAF 8 on April 19, 2026, with Tsarukyan earning a victory by technical superiority, 13-1, in the third round of their wrestling contest.
Tsarukyan, 29, is primarily known as the number-one ranked lightweight contender in MMA, carrying a 23-3-0 professional record while competing out of American Top Team. The Russian wrestler stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous grapplers, averaging 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes inside the cage. His 50 percent striking accuracy further underlines his all-around technical precision.
Faber, the 47-year-old veteran nicknamed "The California Kid," holds a 35-11-0 MMA record and remains one of the most decorated figures to come out of Team Alpha Male. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, the Sacramento native built his career on relentless activity and submission threats, averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his fighting career.
RAF 8 was a wrestling-specific event, and the Tsarukyan-Faber matchup was one of several high-profile bouts on the card. Kyle Snyder defeated Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, Zahid Valencia beat Aiden Sinclair 8-2, and Shamil Sharipov stopped Anthony Cassiopi by pinfall in the first round. Helen Maroulis also earned a dominant technical superiority win over Alexis Janiak by a 10-0 score in the second round.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's performance on a wrestling-specific platform reinforces his credentials as an elite grappler at the top of the lightweight division.
- Faber, at 47, continues to compete across combat sports formats, extending one of MMA's longest careers into the wrestling arena.
- The crossover result adds context to Tsarukyan's takedown-heavy MMA game, which already ranks among the best in the lightweight division.
