Urijah Faber has humorously thanked Arman Tsarukyan for unexpectedly sending him flying into the crowd during their recent wrestling bout at RAF 08.
The match, which was the main event of RAF 08 on Saturday night, saw Faber face off against Tsarukyan after a late change to the card. Tsarukyan ultimately won by technical superiority.
However, the contest was significantly marked by a dramatic moment where both fighters tumbled off the mat and into the spectators. This chaotic scene quickly went viral, eliciting a range of reactions from fans of combat sports.
During a post-match discussion, Faber elaborated on the incident. He suggested that Tsarukyan’s aggressive takedown attempt, which led to the spill, was an intentional, albeit risky, effort to gain attention and social media buzz. Faber downplayed any personal animosity, characterizing it as a young fighter’s pursuit of clicks.
Adding a surprising twist, Faber revealed that the impact of landing on the concrete actually provided relief for a persistent back issue he had been experiencing. He jokingly expressed gratitude to Tsarukyan for this unexpected therapeutic benefit, implying the jolt “realigned” his back and even helped him perform better despite not having fully warmed up due to the prior discomfort.
English Translation:
Urijah Faber Shockingly Thanks Arman Tsarukyan for Spearing Him Into Crowd During Wild RAF 08 Moment
Urijah Faber has unexpectedly expressed gratitude to Arman Tsarukyan for launching him off the stage during their recent wrestling match.
Faber squared off against Tsarukyan in the main event of RAF 08 on Saturday night at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after the card was reshuffled due to Henry Cejudo’s withdrawal from his scheduled bout with Merab Dvalishvili.
“Ahalkalakets” secured a technical fall victory, but the match was ultimately overshadowed by a chaotic moment in which both fighters crashed into the crowd, creating a viral scene that drew mixed reactions from combat sports fans.
The No. 2-ranked UFC lightweight contender charged in for a powerful takedown that looked set to end the contest. Instead, the attempt sent both him and Faber tumbling off the mat and onto the concrete beside the crowd. Despite the frightening spill, both fighters avoided injury, allowing the match to continue moments later.
When the action resumed, Tsarukyan wasted no time, securing another takedown before executing a four-point throw to extend his lead to 13-1, sealing the victory by technical superiority.
Although “The California Kid” initially took a subtle jab at Arman Tsarukyan with a backhanded compliment, Faber now appears to have embraced the moment and is even appreciative of the wild incident.
Urijah Faber Thanks Arman Tsarukyan For Fixing His Back Pain By Launching Him Into Crowd
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Urijah Faber addressed the incident in which Arman Tsarukyan launched him off the stage at RAF 08, downplaying any personal animosity while suggesting that “Ahalkalakets” did it intentionally to generate social media buzz.
“I like Arman. To be honest, I don’t think that was personal,” Faber said. “I think that was him being clickbait. He’s trying to get these clicks at all risks. These young guys will do anything for the clicks. He wanted to risk both of our livelihoods for some clicks there. He knew what he was doing. He said, ‘Let’s throw caution to the wind,’ and bless his heart. I could have gotten up and done an elbow shiver to the back of the head, but I know exactly what was going on. He’s just trying to draw some attention to the wonderful sport of wrestling.”
The UFC Hall of Famer went on to say he’s genuinely grateful to Arman Tsarukyan, noting that the impact unexpectedly helped relieve a lingering back issue.
“I literally landed on the cement. I think it helped my back. My back was hurt two weeks ago, and I wasn’t able to do much training. I think he realigned it there. And I didn’t even do a warm-up at the match. You know, I did no wrestling, uh, other than footwork and motion leading up to that because I had a little issue, and I think he fixed it. So thank you, Arman Tsarukyan, for the help.”