Tsarukyan Faces Faber in RAF 8 Main Event

Veteran Urijah Faber takes on rising star Arman Tsarukyan in the headline bout of the evening.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:38am

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A fragmented, multi-angled painting depicting the wrestling match between Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors representing the action and energy of the bout.The high-stakes clash between rising star Tsarukyan and veteran Faber is rendered in a cubist, geometric style that captures the intensity and dynamism of their RAF 8 main event bout.Philadelphia Today

The main event of RAF 8 in Philadelphia features a matchup between Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber. Tsarukyan has quickly become a rising star in the RAF promotion, winning his last three events, while the 46-year-old Faber is a former WEC champion looking to make an impact in his second RAF appearance after losing to Henry Cejudo at RAF 6.

Why it matters

This bout represents a clash between an up-and-coming wrestler in Tsarukyan and a seasoned veteran in Faber. Tsarukyan will look to continue his momentum and cement his status as one of the top talents in RAF, while Faber aims to prove he can still compete at the highest level despite his advanced age.

The details

Tsarukyan, who has a minimal wrestling background, has been dominant in his three previous RAF appearances, winning each of his matches. Faber, a former collegiate wrestler at UC-Davis, is making his second RAF appearance after losing to Henry Cejudo at RAF 6 via technical fall.

  • The main event bout between Tsarukyan and Faber is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 19, 2026 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
  • Tsarukyan's last three RAF victories came at RAF 5, RAF 6, and RAF 7.

The players

Arman Tsarukyan

A rising star in the RAF promotion, Tsarukyan has won his last three events despite having a minimal wrestling background.

Urijah Faber

A former WEC champion and collegiate wrestler at UC-Davis, the 46-year-old Faber is looking to prove he can still compete at the highest level in his second RAF appearance.

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What they’re saying

“Tsarukyan has really emerged as one of the top talents in RAF over the past few months. This is a big opportunity for him to cement his status against a veteran like Faber.”

— Dana White, RAF President

“I may be the underdog, but I've been in big fights before. I'm not going to let my age hold me back - I still have a lot left in the tank.”

— Urijah Faber

What’s next

The winner of the Tsarukyan vs. Faber main event will likely earn a title shot in their next RAF appearance.

The takeaway

This bout represents a clash between an up-and-coming star in Tsarukyan and a seasoned veteran in Faber. Tsarukyan will look to continue his momentum and cement his status as one of the top talents in RAF, while Faber aims to prove he can still compete at the highest level despite his advanced age.