RAF 06 delivered a wild night of action from Mullett Arena at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday, highlighted by Henry Cejudo's dominant shutout of Urijah Faber and a post-match brawl between Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Quick Results
- Henry Cejudo def. Urijah Faber via Tech Fall (11-0), 3rd Period
- Arman Tsarukyan def. Georgio Poullas via Points (6-4) — post-match brawl
- Aljamain Sterling def. Benson Henderson via Pin, 3rd Period
- David Carr (c) def. Bubba Jenkins via Tech Fall (13-2), 2nd Period — RAF Welterweight Championship
- Andrew Alirez def. Bryce Meredith via Tech Fall (13-2)
- Givi Matcharashvili def. Stephen Buchanan via Criteria (3-3)
- Lucia Yepez def. Everest Leydecker via Points (10-3)
- Tajmuraz Salkazanov def. Keegan O'Toole via Points (9-0)
- Evan Wick def. Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov via Tech Fall (13-2), 3rd Period
- Zahid Valencia def. Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie via Tech Fall (10-0), 1st Period
- Jordan Oliver def. Beau Bartlett via Points (5-3)
- Keelon Jimison def. Clay Guida via Tech Fall (14-3), 2nd Period
Henry Cejudo def. Urijah Faber via Tech Fall (11-0), 3rd Period
The Olympic gold medalist proved he's still elite on the mat. Cejudo, competing in his home state of Arizona, controlled the match from the opening whistle against the 46-year-old UFC Hall of Famer. Cejudo's speed to the heel was the story of the match, as Faber had no answer for the repeated ankle picks that allowed "Triple C" to rack up points at will.
Cejudo built a 3-0 lead in the first period through a combination of shot clock points and takedowns. He extended that to 7-0 by the end of the second, with Faber unable to score a single point despite a spirited late drive. In the third period, Cejudo pushed the margin to 11-0 to secure the technical fall and a shutout victory in his RAF 06 main event debut.
Immediately after the win, Cejudo grabbed the microphone and called out former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who recently signed with RAF. "Merab! You are next!" Cejudo screamed. Dvalishvili, who defeated Cejudo by unanimous decision at UFC 298 in 2024, accepted on the spot. The two are now expected to headline RAF 08 on April 18 in Philadelphia.
RAF commentator Chael Sonnen revealed during the broadcast that Cejudo signed a three-match deal with RAF and will compete throughout 2026. After going 0-4 in his final UFC run before retiring last December, the return to wrestling appears to have rejuvenated Cejudo.
Arman Tsarukyan def. Georgio Poullas via Points (6-4) — Brawl Erupts
The co-main event between UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas was competitive and tense throughout — and it spilled over after the final whistle in dramatic fashion.
Tsarukyan and Poullas engaged in a physical, back-and-forth battle that featured plenty of hand fighting and aggressive exchanges. Poullas appeared to employ dirty tactics during the match, with footage showing him slapping the back of Tsarukyan's head and throwing punches. Tsarukyan's corner could be heard yelling in protest over the illegal actions. In the third period, Tsarukyan powered Poullas out of bounds with a late push to secure the 6-4 win on points.
But the drama was far from over. Moments after the final bell, Tsarukyan shoved Poullas to the ground and unleashed punches in MMA-style ground and pound. The referee, officials, and both corners rushed in to separate them as dozens of people stormed the mat. Colby Covington — who appeared at the event and polled the crowd on future opponents — helped escort Poullas backstage during the chaos.
The incident adds to Tsarukyan's growing list of controversies. He was suspended following an altercation with a fan at UFC 300, got physical with Dan Hooker during UFC Qatar weigh-ins, and withdrew from a scheduled title fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 just one day before the event.
Aljamain Sterling def. Benson Henderson via Pin, 3rd Period
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling stepped in on short notice after Chad Mendes suffered an injury and delivered an impressive performance against fellow former UFC champion Benson Henderson. Sterling secured the pin in the third period, capping off a grappling showcase between two accomplished combat sports veterans.
RAF Welterweight Championship: David Carr (c) def. Bubba Jenkins via Tech Fall (13-2), 2nd Period
Two-time NCAA Division I national champion David Carr made quick work of his title defense, running through Bellator and PFL veteran Bubba Jenkins with a dominant 13-2 tech fall in the second period. Jenkins, a 2011 NCAA national champion himself, had no answer for the younger Carr's pace and technique. Carr retains the RAF welterweight championship and continues to look like one of the premier talents on the RAF roster.
Undercard Highlights
Andrew Alirez made a statement with a 13-2 tech fall over Bryce Meredith in a featherweight matchup. At unlimited weight, Givi Matcharashvili edged Stephen Buchanan via criteria after the match ended 3-3, with a possible injury to Buchanan playing a factor. Lucia Yepez handled Everest Leydecker with a comfortable 10-3 points victory at 120 lbs.
Tajmuraz Salkazanov posted a shutout of his own, blanking Keegan O'Toole 9-0. Evan Wick scored a third-period tech fall over Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov, and Zahid Valencia was dominant with a first-period 10-0 tech fall over Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie. Jordan Oliver edged Beau Bartlett 5-3 in a competitive featherweight bout, and Keelon Jimison opened the card with a 14-3 tech fall over UFC veteran Clay Guida, who recently departed the promotion after 19 years.
What's Next
The Cejudo vs. Dvalishvili matchup gives RAF 08 a blockbuster headliner on April 18 from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. It's a rematch of their UFC 298 bout that Dvalishvili won by unanimous decision — only this time on the wrestling mat, where Cejudo's Olympic pedigree could give him the edge.
Before that, RAF 07 takes place on March 28 from Yuengling Center in Tampa, headlined by Dake vs. Keckeisen. Real American Freestyle continues to build momentum with its blend of elite wrestlers and MMA crossover stars, and the Tsarukyan brawl only added to the promotion's buzz heading into the spring.