At RAF 8, Arman Tsarukyan dominated Urijah Faber with a decisive 13-1 technical superiority victory in the third round of their wrestling match. The event also featured Kyle Snyder defeating Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, Zahid Valencia beating Aiden Sinclair 8-2, and Shamil Sharipov submitting Anthony Cassiopi via pinfall in the first round. Helen Maroulis achieved a technical superiority win over Alexis Yaniak (10-0) in round two, while Real Woods, Jason Nolf, Vladimir Khinchegashvili, Lance Palmer, Jordan Oliver, and Lucas Byrd all secured victories in their respective bouts. The results span multiple weight classes and styles within the RAF wrestling promotion.
Arman Tsarukyan picked up a victory outside the Octagon on April 19, 2026, defeating Urijah Faber by technical superiority at RAF 8, a wrestling promotion event. Tsarukyan earned the win in the third round, finishing with a dominant 13-1 margin.
Tsarukyan, 29, holds a 23-3-0 professional MMA record and is currently ranked first in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian fighter out of American Top Team is known for his relentless output, averaging 3.85 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, while also posing a consistent grappling threat with 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes. His participation in a wrestling competition underlines a well-rounded athletic background that goes beyond his MMA career.
Faber, 47, is an American combat sports veteran who competed under Team Alpha Male throughout his career, compiling a 35-11-0 record. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, the former UFC bantamweight title challenger known as "The California Kid" averaged 2.65 significant strikes per minute during his MMA career and showed a diverse skill set with 1.54 takedowns and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's wrestling performance reinforces the grappling foundation that supports his top-ranked lightweight MMA game
- Faber, long retired from high-level competition at 47, continues to engage in combat sports events across formats
- RAF 8 also featured other notable names including Lance Palmer, who holds a 23-6-0 record and a striking accuracy of over 63 percent in MMA competition, giving the card additional crossover appeal for combat sports fans
