{ "id": "epcrpvak80", "slug": "raf-08", "title": "RAF 08", "updated": "2026-10-25", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "label": "Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" } ] } ], "excerpt": "RAF 08 (Real American Freestyle 08) was the eighth event of the unscripted pro freestyle wrestling league, held April 18, 2026 at Philadelphia's Liacouras Center on Fox Nation; Tsarukyan tech-falled Faber 13-1 while Snyder and Maroulis retained titles.", "snippet": "RAF 08 (Real American Freestyle 08) was the eighth event of the unscripted pro freestyle wrestling league, held April 18, 2026 at Philadelphia's Liacouras Center on Fox Nation; Tsarukyan tech-falled Faber 13-1 while Snyder and Maroulis retained titles.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "markdown": "# RAF 08\n\n**RAF 08** was the eighth event held by [Real American Freestyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-american-freestyle) (RAF), an unscripted professional freestyle wrestling promotion, staged on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and streamed live on Fox Nation.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/) The card was headlined by a middleweight bout in which [Arman Tsarukyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/arman-tsarukyan) defeated UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber by third-round technical fall, after the originally announced main event between [Henry Cejudo](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-cejudo) and Merab Dvalishvili was scrapped on fight day.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Event | RAF 08, the promotion's first event in Philadelphia[2](https://pwinsider.com/article/205361/real-american-freestyle-to-make-philadelphia-debut.html?p=1) |\n| Date and venue | April 18, 2026, 8:00 PM EST, Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA[3](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/events/raf08) |\n| Broadcast | Live exclusively on Fox Nation; a 3-hour broadcast[2](https://pwinsider.com/article/205361/real-american-freestyle-to-make-philadelphia-debut.html?p=1) • [4](https://www.directv.com/guide/SPORT/Real-American-Freestyle-RAF08-Philly-1f06dcba-b2c3-909c-71ec-8c0daf1efe9f) |\n| Main event | Arman Tsarukyan def. Urijah Faber, technical fall 13-1, round 3[5](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/19/maroulis-snyder-retain-belts-valencia-woods-notch-wins-at-raf-08) |\n| Title matches | Kyle Snyder retained the Light Heavyweight belt (12-6 over Rizabek Aitmukhan); Helen Maroulis retained the Women's Bantamweight belt (10-0 tech fall over Alexis Janiak)[5](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/19/maroulis-snyder-retain-belts-valencia-woods-notch-wins-at-raf-08) |\n| Only pinfall | Shamil Sharipov pinned Anthony Cassioppi at 1:45 of round 1[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/) |\n| Bouts | 11 bouts on the card[5](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/19/maroulis-snyder-retain-belts-valencia-woods-notch-wins-at-raf-08) |\n\n## Announcement and card changes\n\nRAF, described by the promotion as the first unscripted professional freestyle wrestling league, announced RAF08 on February 24, 2026, as its Philadelphia debut at the 10,000-seat Liacouras Center on the campus of [Temple University](https://www.edgepedia.org/temple-university).[2](https://pwinsider.com/article/205361/real-american-freestyle-to-make-philadelphia-debut.html?p=1) At announcement, the card was headlined by MMA bantamweight standout [Merab Dvalishvili](https://www.edgepedia.org/merab-dvalishvili) making his official RAF debut.[6](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/february/25/raf08-set-for-philadelphia-s-liacouras-center-headlined-by-merab-dvalishvili-s-raf-debut)\n\nThe planned main event between Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili was scrapped on fight day. RAF cited injury in announcing Cejudo's withdrawal; Cejudo later pointed to personal reasons in a statement published by Bloody Elbow.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/) Arman Tsarukyan versus [Urijah Faber](https://www.edgepedia.org/urijah-faber) was moved into the headline slot.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n\n## Results\n\n**Main event, Middleweight.** Arman Tsarukyan defeated Urijah Faber by technical fall, 13-1, ending 35 seconds into the third period when the 10-point margin triggered the stoppage. Tsarukyan built a 9-0 lead through the first two periods on leg attacks and step-outs; Faber's lone score was a single takedown in period two. It was Tsarukyan's first main-event appearance for RAF.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n\n**Light Heavyweight Championship.** Kyle Snyder retained his title with a 12-6 decision over 2023 World champion Rizabek Aitmukhan, his first title defense in the division. Aitmukhan scored first and stayed within two points through the end of the second period before Snyder pulled away with back-to-back exposures in the third.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n\n**Women's Bantamweight Championship.** Helen Maroulis, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist and the first American woman to win Olympic gold in wrestling, retained her belt with a 10-0 technical fall over Alexis Janiak, closing the match 1:13 into the second period. She has won each of her RAF appearances by technical fall.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n\n**Heavyweight.** Shamil Sharipov delivered the only pinfall of the night, securing a body lock against the edge and turning Anthony Cassioppi for a fall at 1:45 of the first period.[1](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n\nThe remaining bouts, in card order:[5](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/19/maroulis-snyder-retain-belts-valencia-woods-notch-wins-at-raf-08)\n\n- Men's Cruiserweight: Zahid Valencia dec. Aeoden Sinclair, 8-2\n- Men's Featherweight: [Real Woods](https://www.edgepedia.org/real-woods) dec. Anthony Ashnault, 7-2\n- Men's Middleweight: Jason Nolf dec. Joey Blaze, 11-2\n- Men's Featherweight: [Vladimer Khinchegashvili](https://www.edgepedia.org/vladimer-khinchegashvili) dec. Johnni DiJulius, 8-5\n- Men's Lightweight: [Lance Palmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/lance-palmer) dec. Cayden Henschel, 3-2\n- Men's Featherweight: Jordan Oliver dec. Mike Van Brill, 5-0\n- Men's Bantamweight: Lucas Byrd dec. Darian Cruz, 2-2\n\n## Context within the promotion\n\nReal American Freestyle was launched in April 2025 by CEO and cofounder Chad Bronstein alongside WWE legend [Hulk Hogan](https://www.edgepedia.org/hulk-hogan), Eric Bischoff, and Izzy Martinez, and features Olympic-style freestyle wrestling rather than scripted, theatrical matches.[7](https://frontofficesports.com/article/raf-olympic-wresting-promotion-events-hulk-hogan-fox/) RAF bouts follow modified freestyle rules under USA Wrestling standards: three two-minute periods, a 10-point technical fall, individual bouts with no brackets or teams.[8](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/) • [9](https://rafwrestling.org/)\n\nRAF 08 sat in the middle of the promotion's rapid 2026 expansion, which ran monthly events from [RAF 05](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-05) in Miami in January 2026 through [RAF 09](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-09) in Dallas on May 30, 2026.[10](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/events-gallery) The promotion's media partnership with Fox Nation began as a two-fight deal and evolved into an agreement under which the streaming service broadcast RAF's events, with the parties renegotiating the deal eight times and 34 events signed in total as of August 2026.[7](https://frontofficesports.com/article/raf-olympic-wresting-promotion-events-hulk-hogan-fox/) Fox Nation also released a highlights episode, \"The Best of RAF 08: Philly,\" as episode 3 of the show's eighth season.[11](https://nation.foxnews.com/watch/f613baaa4b8c18767561cf942be1e735/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [RAF 08 Results: Tsarukyan Tech Falls Faber, Sharipov Pins, Rafinsider](https://rafinsider.com/raf-08-results-tsarukyan-def-faber-in-third-round-technical-fall/)\n2. [Real American Freestyle to Make Philadelphia Debut, PWInsider](https://pwinsider.com/article/205361/real-american-freestyle-to-make-philadelphia-debut.html?p=1)\n3. [RAF08 | Tsarukyan vs Faber, Real American Freestyle](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/events/raf08)\n4. [Watch RAF08 - Philly (2026), DIRECTV](https://www.directv.com/guide/SPORT/Real-American-Freestyle-RAF08-Philly-1f06dcba-b2c3-909c-71ec-8c0daf1efe9f)\n5. [Maroulis, Snyder retain belts, Valencia, Woods notch wins at RAF 08, USA Wrestling](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/april/19/maroulis-snyder-retain-belts-valencia-woods-notch-wins-at-raf-08)\n6. [RAF08 Set for Philadelphia's Liacouras Center, Headlined by Merab Dvalishvili's RAF Debut, USA Wrestling](https://www.themat.com/news/2026/february/25/raf08-set-for-philadelphia-s-liacouras-center-headlined-by-merab-dvalishvili-s-raf-debut)\n7. [How Real American Freestyle Thinks It Could Change the Sport of Wrestling, Front Office Sports](https://frontofficesports.com/article/raf-olympic-wresting-promotion-events-hulk-hogan-fox/)\n8. [RAF Wrestling Rules: Real American Freestyle Scoring & Format](https://rafwrestling.org/rules/)\n9. [RAF Wrestling: Real American Freestyle Results & Schedule](https://rafwrestling.org/)\n10. [Events | RAF, Real American Freestyle](https://www.realamericanfreestyle.com/events-gallery)\n11. [The Best of RAF 08: Philly, Fox Nation](https://nation.foxnews.com/watch/f613baaa4b8c18767561cf942be1e735/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series › Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"RAF 08\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[RAF 08](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08](https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"RAF 08\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/raf-08. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "RAF 08 was the eighth event of the unscripted pro freestyle wrestling league, held April 18, 2026 at Philadelphia's Liacouras Center on Fox Nation; Tsarukyan tech-falled Faber 13-1 while Snyder and Maroulis retained titles." }