Arman Tsarukyan showcased his dominance once again by defeating Urijah Faber at RAF 8, held in Philadelphia on April 18, 2026. The match concluded with a technical fall victory for Tsarukyan, who secured a staggering score of 13-1. He maintained control throughout the bout, even pushing Faber off the mat and onto the floor, creating a memorable moment.
Despite the defeat, Faber, aged 46, exited the match in good spirits. Post-victory, Tsarukyan issued a challenge to UFC fighter Colby Covington, with both athletes agreeing to face off at RAF 9, scheduled for May 30, 2026.
RAF 8 Highlights
The evening carried on despite a major change in the card. Originally, the main event was set to feature a rematch between former UFC champions Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo. However, Cejudo’s injury led to the cancellation of this matchup on the day of the event.
Co-Main Event
The co-main event showcased Kyle Snyder defending his light heavyweight title against Rizabek Aitmukhan. Snyder had a rocky start, trailing 6-0 at one point, but rallied to clinch a 12-6 victory and retain his title.
Full Results from RAF 8
| Match Type | Competitors | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Middleweight | Arman Tsarukyan vs. Urijah Faber | Tsarukyan def. Faber via technical fall (13-1) |
| Light Heavyweight Championship | Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan | Snyder def. Aitmukhan via points (12-6) |
| Cruiserweight | Zahid Valencia vs. Aeoden Sinclair | Valencia def. Sinclair via points (8-2) |
| Heavyweight | Shamil Sharipov vs. Anthony Cassioppi | Sharipov def. Cassioppi via pinfall |
| Women’s Bantamweight Championship | Helen Maroulis vs. Alexis Janiak | Maroulis def. Janiak via technical fall (11-0) |
| Featherweight | Real Woods vs. Anthony Ashnault | Woods def. Ashnault via points (7-2) |
| Middleweight | Jason Nolf vs. Joey Blaze | Nolf def. Blaze via points (11-2) |
| Featherweight | Vladimer Khinchegashvili vs. Johnni DiJulius | Khinchegashvili def. DiJulius via points (8-5) |
| Lightweight | Lance Palmer vs. Cayden Henschel | Palmer def. Henschel via points (3-2) |
| Featherweight | Jordan Oliver vs. Michael Vanschenkbrill | Oliver def. Vanschenkbrill via points (5-0) |
| Bantamweight | Lucas Byrd vs. Darian Cruz | Byrd def. Cruz via points (2-2, decision) |
In addition to the action in the ring, RAF made headlines by signing UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. He is set to defend his title against Sean Strickland on May 9, 2026, at UFC 328 before making his RAF debut.
As the wrestling season progresses, fans eagerly await RAF 9, where Arman Tsarukyan will look to continue his undefeated streak against Colby Covington.
