Raf 08: Faber braces for bigger test in Philadelphia
raf 08 is set for Saturday night at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Arman Tsarukyan meets Urijah Faber in the co-main event. The matchup has drawn attention because Faber is expecting to give up size, age and reach to the UFC lightweight contender. The card also features Merab Dvalishvili against Henry Cejudo in the main event.
Raf 08 puts Faber in a difficult spot
Faber said the first thing he wondered was whether organizers really wanted him to wrestle Tsarukyan. He pointed to the obvious gap in physical profile, saying Tsarukyan is a lot bigger than he is and that the challenge comes with a distinct size advantage and a youth advantage.
Tsarukyan competes at 155 pounds in the UFC and typically walks around in the 180-pound range, while Faber spent most of his MMA career in the 145- and 135-pound divisions. Faber is now 46 and has been away from MMA competition since a knockout loss to Petr Yan in 2019. Even so, he said wrestling remains something he enjoys because it lets him step into a difficult matchup and still treat the moment as fun.
Raf 08 and the matchup dynamic
The shift into this bout became clearer when Faber originally agreed to wrestle Cayden Henschel, a younger opponent closer to his size. That changed when Henschel moved to a different match and Faber was placed opposite Tsarukyan instead.
That adjustment has turned the co-main event into one of the card’s most talked-about meetings. Tsarukyan has a reputation for intensity around competition, and Faber made clear he is aware of that edge. He said he does not get the warmest vibe from Tsarukyan and described him as someone he would want to watch closely in the build-up.
Immediate reaction from Faber and the card
Faber kept his tone measured but firm when speaking about the matchup. “I was like, ‘Are you guys sure you want me to wrestle him?’” he said. Later, he added that he is not the kind of guy who will let people push him around, while also saying he hopes there is no after-the-bell trouble. He said he may even bring his mouthpiece just in case.
The rest of the event places more star power alongside the co-main. The main event features Dvalishvili against Cejudo, a rematch between former UFC champions, while the card also includes matchups featuring Kyle Snyder, Zahid Valencia, Anthony Cassioppi, Helen Maroulis and others. The event is being held at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Quick context on raf 08
raf 08 is part of the Real American Freestyle schedule and adds another high-profile showcase to the promotion’s run. The pairing of Dvalishvili and Cejudo gives the top of the card a championship-caliber name, while Tsarukyan vs. Faber gives the night a storyline built on contrast.
What comes next is straightforward: the card will unfold Saturday night in Philadelphia, and raf 08 will answer whether Faber can use experience and composure to offset Tsarukyan’s size and youth. If the matchup stays clean, it could become one of the event’s most watched moments.
