RAF 08 Delivers Dramatic Finishes as Snyder, Maroulis Shine

Tsarukyan dominates Faber in main event, while Snyder rallies for comeback win and Maroulis defends title

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:03am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic movements and shifting perspectives of a freestyle wrestling match, rendered in earthy tones of olive, ochre, and sienna.The cubist deconstruction of a dramatic freestyle wrestling match captures the raw intensity and competitive spirit of the RAF 08 event.Philadelphia Today

The RAF 08 MMA event in Philadelphia featured several standout performances, including Kyle Snyder's dramatic comeback victory over Rizabek Aitmukhan and Helen Maroulis' dominant title defense. Arman Tsarukyan also claimed the main event win over Urijah Faber by technical fall.

Why it matters

The RAF 08 event showcased the talent and competitiveness of the Real American Freestyle MMA promotion, with several high-profile bouts and title fights capturing the attention of fans. The results highlighted the skills of top fighters like Snyder, Maroulis, and Tsarukyan, building anticipation for future RAF events.

The details

In the main event, Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by technical fall (13-1) in the third round of their 175-pound clash. Tsarukyan dominated the match, running Faber off the mat and into the crowd. In another key bout, Kyle Snyder rallied from a 6-1 deficit to defeat world champion Rizabek Aitmukhan 12-6, pulling off a dramatic comeback victory in the light heavyweight division. Women's bantamweight champion Helen Maroulis also impressed, defending her title with a 10-0 technical fall win over Alexis Janiak in the second period.

  • The RAF 08 event took place on April 18, 2026 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
  • The main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber was moved to the top of the card after a late withdrawal by Merab Dvalishvili and Henry Cejudo.

The players

Arman Tsarukyan

A rising MMA fighter who claimed the main event win over veteran Urijah Faber at RAF 08.

Kyle Snyder

The former Olympic gold medalist who rallied from an early deficit to defeat world champion Rizabek Aitmukhan in a light heavyweight bout.

Helen Maroulis

The defending RAF women's bantamweight champion who secured a dominant 10-0 technical fall victory to retain her title.

Urijah Faber

The MMA veteran who was defeated by Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of RAF 08.

Rizabek Aitmukhan

The world champion wrestler who was upset by Kyle Snyder in their light heavyweight clash.

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What they’re saying

“Tsarukyan ran me off the mat and into the crowd. It was a dominant performance from him.”

— Urijah Faber

“I knew I had to dig deep and find a way to come back. Aitmukhan is a tough opponent, but I was able to rally and get the win.”

— Kyle Snyder

“I came in focused and ready to defend my title. Putting on a dominant performance was important to me.”

— Helen Maroulis

What’s next

The RAF promotion is expected to announce its next event in the coming weeks, with fans eager to see if the top performers from RAF 08 will return to the cage.

The takeaway

The RAF 08 event showcased the depth of talent in the Real American Freestyle MMA promotion, with standout performances from rising stars like Tsarukyan as well as established champions like Snyder and Maroulis. The dramatic finishes and comeback victories highlighted the competitive nature of the RAF events.