← Previous revision Revision as of 17:57, 18 April 2026 Line 2: Line 2: {{Infobox MMA event {{Infobox MMA event |name=RAF 08: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo |name=RAF 08: Tsarukyan vs. Faber |image=RAF 08 poster.jpg |image=RAF 08 poster.jpg |caption=Promotional poster for RAF 08 |caption=Promotional poster for RAF 08 Line 15: Line 15: }} }} '''''RAF 08: Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo''''' is an upcoming [[freestyle wrestling]] event that will take 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> '''''RAF 08: Tsarukyan vs. Faber''''' is an upcoming [[freestyle wrestling]] event that will take 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 will be the eighth flagship event produced by the [[Real American Freestyle]] (RAF) promotion, and will air live on [[Fox Nation]].<ref name="s812"/> It will be the eighth flagship event produced by the [[Real American Freestyle]] (RAF) promotion, and will air live on [[Fox Nation]].<ref name="s812"/> Line 25: Line 25: Commentary for the event's live [[Fox Nation]] broadcast will be 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> Commentary for the event's live [[Fox Nation]] broadcast will be 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> Former [[UFC Bantamweight Championship|UFC Bantamweight Champion]] [[Merab Dvalishvili]] will debut at this event, headlining against former [[UFC Flyweight Championship|UFC Flyweight]] and fellow Bantamweight Champion [[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> Former [[UFC Bantamweight Championship|UFC Bantamweight Champion]] [[Merab Dvalishvili]] was scheduled to headline this event against former [[UFC Flyweight Championship|UFC Flyweight]] and fellow Bantamweight Champion [[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. [[Urijah Faber]] was originally announced to be facing Cayden Henschel, but both men were rebooked against different opponents.<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> [[Urijah Faber]] was originally announced to be facing Cayden Henschel, but both men were rebooked against different opponents.<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> Line 32: Line 32: {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (Fox Nation)}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (Fox Nation)}} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |{{flagicon|USA}} [[Henry Cejudo]] |vs. |{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Merab Dvalishvili]] | | | | }} {{MMAevent bout {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |Middleweight