Raf Wrestling: Cejudo vs. Faber Headlines RAF 06 in Tempe; Mokaev Bout Canceled
The RAF 06 freestyle wrestling tournament will bring a stacked card to Tempe, Arizona on the night of Feb. 28 to March 1, headlined by a marquee matchup between Henry Cejudo and Urijah Faber. The lineup matters now because the event pairs high‑profile former UFC fighters with decorated wrestlers, while a last‑minute cancellation reshapes the card and broadcast plans for viewers.
Raf Wrestling Main Event: Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber
The centerpiece of RAF 06 is a match between former two‑division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo and long‑time UFC veteran Urijah Faber. Cejudo retired in December following his fourth straight UFC loss, a sequence that frames his appearance as a notable return to competition. Faber, who retired from the UFC in 2019 and has kept active in grappling contests, is 46 years old—seven years older than Cejudo—adding an age‑and‑experience contrast to the main event.
What makes this notable is the crossover appeal: both names carry UFC pedigrees that elevate the promotional profile of the Real American Freestyle league while testing how elite MMA figures fare under freestyle rules. The match sits atop a card designed to mix MMA veterans and internationally ranked wrestlers, increasing stakes for broadcasters and fans alike.
Mullet Arena Undercard: Arman Tsarukyan, Kadimagomedov and Card Changes
The co‑main event pairs Arman Tsarukyan with Georgio Poullas at Mullet Arena in Tempe. Both athletes are making their second appearances in the Real American Freestyle circuit after competing at RAF 05 on Jan. 10, where Tsarukyan posted a 10–0 victory over Lance Palmer and Poullas defeated Keelon Jimison. In a notable pre‑event development, Tsarukyan offered an opponent $5, 000 to skip a weight cut prior to RAF 06, a move that underscores the logistical and competitive pressures surrounding the card.
The undercard also lists heavyweight names and international wrestlers, including Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov versus Evan Wick and bouts featuring Givi Matcharashvili, Taimuraz Salkazanov and Zahid Valencia. Promoters added Aljamain Sterling to the roster, and other recognizable MMA figures on the bill include Benson Henderson and Clay Guida. These inclusions further blur the line between professional MMA and freestyle wrestling on a single event card.
A scheduled matchup between Mokaev and Meredith has been canceled, forcing adjustments to the night’s sequence and potential matchmaking. The cancellation alters the originally posted lineup and reduces the number of televised matchups available to audiences in the designated broadcast window.
Broadcast and Promotion: Fox Nation and RAF Expansion
The official broadcast for RAF 06 will be available on Fox Nation, with the event slated to begin at 9: 00 PM local time. For international viewers, organizers published corresponding times of 5: 00 AM Yerevan time and 4: 00 AM Moscow time. The timing places the card in a prime local‑evening slot while pushing live international viewership to early‑morning hours.
Promotional plans also note that RAF is moving forward with future events: RAF 8 is scheduled to head to Philadelphia and will feature the promotional debut of Merab Dvalishvili. That forward scheduling signals a sustained effort to expand the league’s footprint across U. S. cities and to continue blending Olympic‑level wrestling talent with established MMA names.
The mix of canceled bouts, added names and high‑profile main events creates immediate implications for athletes and fans: lineups must be reshuffled when bouts fall through, while broadcasters and promoters must recalibrate airtime and promotion. For viewers seeking access, Fox Nation is the designated home for the official broadcast on the night of the event.
