Urijah Faber faced Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of RAF 8 after Henry Cejudo’s withdrawal due to an undisclosed injury scrapped the original headliner hours before the event.
The change elevated the UFC lightweight contender and former WEC champion matchup from the undercard to the headline slot at Philadelphia’s Liacouras Center on Saturday night, streaming exclusively on FOX Nation.
Faber, 46, entered the bout as a significant underdog, acknowledging Tsarukyan’s size, youth, and recent volatility in interviews prior to the event. Tsarukyan, 29, typically walks around at 180 pounds despite competing at 155 in the UFC, although Faber’s career peaked in the 135- and 145-pound divisions.
“I was like, ‘Are you guys sure you want me to wrestle him?’” Faber told Uncrowned, recalling his initial reaction to the matchup. “I mean, he’s a lot bigger than I am.”
He noted Tsarukyan’s history of post-fight altercations, including a punch thrown at Georgio Poullas after their first bout and a head-butt on Dan Hooker at a UFC weigh-in, calling it part of the Armenian’s marketing appeal. “You have to watch him because you never know what he’ll do,” Faber said.
Despite the disparities, Faber framed the contest as an opportunity to test himself, drawing from his late start in wrestling and belief that skill and mindset outweigh physical advantages. “You just believe in yourself and your skill set and proceed out and have fun,” he said.
The RAF 8 card otherwise proceeded as adjusted, with Kyle Snyder vs. Rizabek Aitmukhan moving to co-main event and the rest of the lineup unchanged, including bouts featuring Olympic medalists Helen Maroulis and Jordan Oliver.
Cejudo, who retired from MMA after a December loss to Payton Talbott at UFC 323, had defeated Faber via tech fall at RAF 6 in February and was set to rematch Merab Dvalishvili, who beat him in a UFC 298 decision in February 2024. Both appeared at Friday’s press conference to promote the scrapped rematch.
Tsarukyan, ranked among the UFC’s top lightweight contenders, entered the Faber bout on a streak of strong performances, though his recent conduct outside the cage has drawn scrutiny alongside his in-cage aggression.
For Faber, the fight represented a continuation of his post-MMA engagement with combat sports, balancing business life and fatherhood with occasional returns to the mat for competition and personal challenge.
Why was the original RAF 8 main event cancelled?
Henry Cejudo withdrew due to an undisclosed injury, according to RAF co-founder Chad Bronstein, forcing the cancellation of his scheduled headliner against Merab Dvalishvili.
How did Urijah Faber view the matchup against Arman Tsarukyan?
Faber acknowledged Tsarukyan’s size, youth, and volatility but said wrestling allows him to compete despite odds, emphasizing belief in skill set and enjoying the challenge.
What was the status of Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili before the event?
Cejudo and Dvalishvili both appeared at Friday’s RAF 8 pre-event press conference in Philadelphia to hype up their match — which is a rematch from their UFC 298 bout that saw Dvalishvili earn a decision victory in February 2024. Cejudo retired from MMA competition following a decision loss to Payton Talbott at UFC 323 this past December.
What other notable athletes competed on the RAF 8 card?
The event featured Olympic medalists Helen Maroulis (wrestling) and Jordan Oliver (wrestling), along with NCAA champions Kyle Snyder and Zahid Valencia, among others.
