RAF 8 card updated: Tsarukyan vs. Faber bumped to main event

UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and former featherweight champion Urijah Faber will headline RAF 8 on Saturday night in Philadelphia after the original main event fell apart in the final days before the card.

Henry Cejudo pulled out of his scheduled rematch with Merab Dvalishvili due to a late injury, as first reported by MMA Fighting. Dvalishvili subsequently withdrew as well, forcing RAF Wrestling to promote the Tsarukyan-Faber matchup to the top of the bill at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. The card streams live on FOX Nation beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Kyle Snyder and Helen Maroulis headline two title bouts

Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder faces Rizabek Aitmukhan in a 215-pound championship bout that now serves as the co-main event. Olympic champion Helen Maroulis takes on Alexis Janiak at 130 pounds in another title match deeper on the card, according to MMA Mania.

The commentary team for the broadcast features Kurt Angle, Chael Sonnen, Cyrus Fees, and Julianna Pena. Other notable bouts include heavyweight Anthony Cassioppi against Shamil Sharipov and Zahid Valencia meeting Aeoden Sinclair at 190 pounds.

Tsarukyan, who recently competed in the UFC Octagon, makes a quick turnaround to test his wrestling credentials against Faber. The event also features Jason Nolf, Real Woods, and former world champion Vladimer Khinchegashvili on a card that mixes MMA fighters with credentialed wrestlers.

Photo by yousef samuil on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — LIVE! RAF 8 Results: Tsarukyan vs. Faber | MMA Fighting
• mmamania.com — RAF 08: Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili — Full Card & Start Time | MMA Mania