RAF 08

{{Infobox MMA event |name=RAF 08: Tsarukyan vs. Faber |image=RAF 08 poster.jpg |caption=Promotional poster for RAF 08 |promotion=Real American Freestyle |date= April 18, 2026 |venue=Liacouras Center |city=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |attendance= |gate= |previousevent=RAF 07: Tsarukyan vs. Poullas 2 |followingevent=RAF 09: Steveson vs. Romanov }}

'''''RAF 08: Tsarukyan vs. Faber''''' was a freestyle wrestling event that took place on April 18, 2026, at the Liacouras Center of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<ref name="s812">{{cite web | last=Heck | first=Mike | title=Former UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili set to compete at RAF 8 | website=MMA Fighting | date=February 24, 2026 | url=https://www.mmafighting.com/raf-wrestling/473206/former-ufc-champ-merab-dvalishvili-set-to-compete-at-raf-8 | access-date=February 24, 2026}}</ref>

It was the eighth flagship event produced by the Real American Freestyle (RAF) promotion, and aired live on Fox Nation.<ref name="s812"/>

== Background ==

Tickets for the event went on sale through Ticketmaster on February 27, 2026.<ref name="k608">{{cite web | last=Holland | first=Jesse | title=Merab time! Former UFC champ signs with RAF, debuts April 18 in Philly | website=MMA Mania | date=February 24, 2026 | url=https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-news/424523/merab-former-ufc-champ-signs-with-raf-debuts-april-18-philly | access-date=February 24, 2026}}</ref>

Commentary for the event's live Fox Nation broadcast was provided by Kurt Angle, Ben Askren, Julianna Peña, Chael Sonnen, and Shane Sparks.<ref name="f817">{{cite web | last=Behunin | first=Alexander | title=RAF 08 card, start time, date and location | website=MMA Mania | date=April 13, 2026 | url=https://www.mmamania.com/ncaa-wrestling-news-and-results/436680/raf-08-card-start-time-date-and-location-cejudo-vs-merab-2 | access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref>

Merab Dvalishvili was scheduled to headline this event against Henry Cejudo.<ref name="b748">{{cite web | last=Bohn | first=Mike | title=Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo headlines RAF08 in Philadelphia | website=Yahoo Sports | date=March 1, 2026 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/merab-dvalishvili-vs-henry-cejudo-163552800.html | access-date=March 2, 2026}}</ref> However, Cejudo pulled out due to injury and the match was cancelled.<ref name="a696">{{cite web | last=Bohn | first=Mike | title=Henry Cejudo injured, out of RAF 08 main event vs. Merab Dvalishvili | website=MMA Junkie | date=April 18, 2026 | url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2026/04/18/henry-cejudo-injured-out-of-raf-08-main-event-vs-merab-dvalishvili/89678660007/ | access-date=April 18, 2026}}</ref> As a result, a middleweight bout between Urijah Faber and Arman Tsarukyan was promoted to the main event.<ref name="a696"/> Faber was originally announced to be facing Cayden Henschel, but both men were rebooked against different opponents for undisclosed reasons.<ref name="b019">{{cite web | last=Holland | first=Jesse | title=UFC bad boy Arman Tsarukyan makes quick turnaround, wrestles Urijah Faber at RAF08 in Philadelphia | website=MMA Mania | date=April 1, 2026 | url=https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-news/432943/ufc-bad-boy-arman-tsarukyan-wrestles-urijah-faber-raf08-philadelphia | access-date=April 3, 2026}}</ref>

Anthony Ashnault debuted at this event against Real Woods.<ref name="a095">{{cite web | last=Evans | first=Bill | title=Rutgers NCAA wrestling champion returning to mat for 1 more match | website=NJ.com | date=April 17, 2026 | url=https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2026/04/rutgers-ncaa-wrestling-champion-returning-to-mat-for-1-more-match.html | access-date=April 19, 2026}}</ref> It was the first match for Ashnault since 2024, when he retired to enter coaching.<ref name="a095"/>

It was announced during the broadcast that Khamzat Chimaev had signed with RAF.<ref name="s843">{{cite web | last=Martin | first=Damon | title=Top UFC superstar is latest to sign with RAF | website=MMA Fighting | date=April 18, 2026 | url=https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/483498/ufc-champ-khamzat-chimaev-signs-with-raf-expected-to-debut-at-raf-10 | access-date=April 18, 2026}}</ref>

All competitors favored to win by sportsbooks were victorious in their respective matches.<ref name="l553">{{cite web | title=RAF 8: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo | website=Fight Odds | url=https://fightodds.io/mma-events/8991/raf-8-dvalishvili-vs-cejudo/odds | access-date=April 18, 2026}}</ref>

== Results == {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (Fox Nation)}} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |{{flagicon|ARM}} Arman Tsarukyan |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Urijah Faber |Technical fall (13–1) |3 |0:35 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Kyle Snyder (c) |def. |{{flagicon|KAZ}} Rizabek Aitmukhan |Decision (12–6) |3 |2:00 |For the RAF Light Heavyweight Championship. }} {{MMAevent bout |Cruiserweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Zahid Valencia |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Aeoden Sinclair |Decision (8–2) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Heavyweight |{{flagicon|BHR}} Shamil Sharipov |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Anthony Cassioppi |Pinfall |1 |1:45 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Bantamweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Helen Maroulis (c) |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Alexis Janiak |Technical fall (10–0) |2 |1:13 |For the RAF Women's Bantamweight Championship. }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Real Woods |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Anthony Ashnault |Decision (7–2) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Jason Nolf |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Joey Blaze |Decision (11–2) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |{{flagicon|GEO}} Vladimer Khinchegashvili |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Johnni DiJulius |Decision (8–5) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Lance Palmer |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Cayden Henschel |Decision (3–2) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Jordan Oliver |def. |{{flagicon|USA}} Michael Vanschenkbrill |Decision (5–0) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |{{flagicon|USA}} Lucas Byrd |def. |{{flagicon|PUR}} Darian Cruz |Decision (criteria) (2–2) |3 |2:00 | }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} Source:<ref name="s928">{{cite web | last=Fowlkes | first=Ben | title=RAF 8 results: Arman Tsarukyan runs Urijah Faber off the mat in lopsided victory, calls out Colby Covington | website=Yahoo Sports | date=April 19, 2026 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/wrestling/breaking-news/live/raf-8-results-arman-tsarukyan-runs-urijah-faber-off-the-mat-in-lopsided-victory-calls-out-colby-covington-063050967.html | access-date=April 19, 2026}}</ref>

==Bonus awards== The following athletes received bonuses.<ref name="u592">{{cite web | title=RAF 08 Recap: Tsarukyan Shines, Snyder's Comeback, and a Night That Raised the Bar | website=Real American Freestyle | date=April 19, 2026 | url=https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/post/raf-08-recap-the-bar-has-been-raised | access-date=May 31, 2026}}</ref> *'''Match of the Night: Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan''' *'''Performance of the Night: Jason Nolf'''

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Portal|Martial Arts}} *{{Official website}} *{{Apple TV episode}} *[https://nation.foxnews.com/watch/e6487bd6258010c2fdd57f042f682e3b "RAF 08"] at Fox Nation *[https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/140342-raf-8 "RAF 08"] at Tapology *{{YouTube|SgNTazYnkm8|"RAF 08"}}

Category:2026 in Philadelphia Category:2026 in sports in Pennsylvania Category:2026 in sport wrestling Category:April 2026 sports events in the United States Category:Real American Freestyle flagship events Category:Sports competitions in Philadelphia