This is the live blog for Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber, the main event match for RAF 8 from Temple’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Originally set to be the co-main event of the evening, Tsarukyan vs. Faber was elevated to the main event slot after Henry Cejudo withdrew from his bout with Merab Dvalishvili due to injury just hours before the event.
Tsarukyan has become the face of RAF over the past few months, competing in the past three RAF events, despite a minimal wrestling background. Tsarukyan is 3-0 over those appearances, and figures to be a massive favorite against the undersized Faber, who is also significantly older.
A former WEC champion and collegiate wrestler at UC-Davis, despite being 46 years old, Faber has spent his post-MMA career engaging in sporadic grappling matches and other competitions. He made his RAF debut at RAF 6, losing to Henry Cejudo via Tech Fall.
Check out the Tsarukyan vs. Faber live blog below.
Tsarukyan is out in a black singlet, while Faber is in a white and black singlet and looking like a man in his mid-40s. This might be over fast.
Tsarukyan to the center and they are reaching for hands. Faber doing a good job of keeping his feet in motion, but Tsarukyan forces a tie-up. Obviously much stronger in this position and he gets Faber in motion and then snaps down!
2 points and Tsarukyan has an arm trapped, and rolls the gut-wrench for 2 more. Faber doing his best to defend, but a turn back for another 2, 8-0 almost immediately and Tsarukyan ditches it, back to the feet and a restart.
Faber is much smaller than Tsarukyan but now he’s trying to bring the offense to Tsarukyan, working his own tie-up. Tsarukyan not forcing the issue. He dips for an inside single but Faber defends and there’s no will from Tsarukyan to finish this so we make it to the end of the period.
This will likely be the final period. Faber in motion early though, trying to avoid bad position. Tsarukyan is definitely vibing in there, just going for light pushes.
OH!!!!!! Tsarukyan gets a leg and starts driving! Faber on one foot bouncing and Tsarukyan drives him all the way off the stage!!! They went right over the commentary booth. And it’s a miracle nobody got hurt. 9-1. Tsarukyan got a push out, but Faber got a point for Tsarukyan being a crazy person.
Faber looking amped up but Tsarukyan is so much bigger than him, locked onto the arm. Faber tries to dive down but Tsarukyan sits on top. Tsarukyan is toying with Faber in here, obviously. Digs an under, drives Faber to the edge, but then stops. He’s done that like twice, now.
Tie-up right away, Arman just messing about. Finally ducks under for a nice single into a high-crotch but Faber does a good job of keeping a leg, staying up. But Tsarukyan still has a hold and BIG THROW for the the finish. Tsarukyan put on a show, if nothing else.
Arman Tsarukyan def. Urijah Faber via Tech Fall (13-1) — Period 3
Before the interview, Arman let’s Faber throw him. Classic wrestling.
Chael Sonnen asks Tsarukyan if that push-out was intentional, but he says no, calls Faber a legend, and says it’s just his technique.
“RAF, next time you need two mats for me.”
Tsarukyan then calls out Colby Covington who is there, and Colby comes up. Covington is booked against Chris Weidman, but Covington says he wants Tsarukyan instead. All respect from everybody. And then Tsarukyan says after he beats Covington, he wants Sonnen next.
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