Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber at RAF 8, winning by technical superiority with a score of 13-1 in the third round. The event featured multiple wrestling matches with notable results including Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, and Shamil Sharipov pinning Anthony Cassiopi in round one. Helen Marulis won by technical superiority 10-0 in round two against Alexis Yaniak. Other winners included Zahid Valencia, Real Woods, Jason Nolf, Vladimer Khinchegashvili, Lance Palmer, Jordan Oliver, and Lucas Byrd in their respective bouts.
At RAF 8 on April 19, the combat sports crossover event produced a striking result when Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber in a wrestling match, winning by technical superiority with a lopsided score of 13-1 in the third round.
Tsarukyan, 29, carries a 23-3 professional MMA record and currently holds the number-one ranking in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and brings elite grappling credentials to complement his MMA career. He averages 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA competition, a rate that reflects the wrestling foundation on display at RAF 8.
On the other side of the mat was Urijah Faber, the 47-year-old American veteran known as "The California Kid." Faber holds a professional MMA record of 35-11 and built much of his reputation through his grappling prowess during his prime years competing for Team Alpha Male. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Faber is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports history, though the 13-1 scoreline illustrated the gap between the two competitors on this occasion.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan demonstrated elite wrestling ability at a high-profile crossover event, adding competitive experience outside MMA
- The result underscores the depth of Tsarukyan's grappling game as he remains a top lightweight contender
- RAF 8 featured a broader card of wrestling bouts, with Kyle Snyder, Shamil Sharipov, Helen Maroulis, Zahid Valencia, Jason Nolf, and Lance Palmer among the other winners on the night
