TLDR
- Henry Cejudo defeated Urijah Faber 11-0 via technical fall in the RAF 06 main event on March 1, 2026
- Cejudo’s Olympic wrestling background proved too much for Faber’s MMA grappling skills
- The event in Tempe, Arizona featured multiple UFC veterans competing in freestyle wrestling matches
- Arman Tsarukyan and Aljamain Sterling also won their respective bouts on the card
- Cejudo expressed interest in a potential rematch with Merab Dvalishvili after the victory
Sources: Sportaran | MiddleEasy | Bloody Elbow
Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo dominated fellow MMA legend Urijah Faber with an 11-0 technical fall victory at RAF 06 in Tempe, Arizona on March 1, 2026. The main event showcased the clear difference between an Olympic gold medalist and a fighter with an MMA wrestling background.
Cejudo, who won Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Games, prevented Faber from scoring a single point throughout the match. The technical fall came after Cejudo built an insurmountable lead on the wrestling mat.
The Real American Freestyle promotion brought together top MMA fighters and elite wrestlers for the event broadcast on Fox Nation. The show started at 9:00 PM local time and featured multiple bouts between combat sports athletes.
UFC Stars Test Wrestling Skills
The co-main event saw Armenian UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan defeat professional wrestler Giorgio Poullas by a score of 5-3. Both athletes were competing in their second Real American Freestyle appearance.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling also competed on the card, defeating Benson Henderson 12-2. The event marked Sterling’s transition from MMA competition to pure wrestling matches.
Clay Guida, another UFC veteran, fell to his opponent Mugzy by a score of 13-3. David Carr successfully defended his championship with a 13-2 victory over Bubba Jenkins.
The card featured several decisive victories by technical fall and large point margins. Taimuraz Salkazanov shut out Keegan O’Toole 9-0, while Zahid Valencia blanked Mahmoud Fawzy Sebie 10-0.
Cejudo Eyes Future Matchups
The 46-year-old Faber struggled against Cejudo’s superior wrestling technique throughout the bout. Faber made his name in MMA as a fighter known for his scrambling ability and ground game, but faced a different level of grappling expertise.
Cejudo has expressed interest in a potential rematch with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili following his wrestling performance. The two have history from their time competing in MMA.
Other results from the RAF 06 card included Andrew Alirez defeating Bryce Meredith 13-3 and Jordan Oliver edging Beau Bartlett 5-3. Givi Matcharashvili won his match against Stephen Buchanan 3-3 on criteria.
Jami Guzman scored a 10-3 victory over Everest Leydecker, while Evan Wick upset Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov 13-3. The event drew wrestlers from around the world to compete in Arizona.
The Real American Freestyle league has become a platform for MMA fighters to test their wrestling skills against trained grapplers. RAF 06 marked the sixth event in the promotion’s history.
Cejudo’s performance demonstrated that his Olympic-level wrestling remains sharp despite his focus on MMA in recent years. He last competed in the UFC in 2020 before retiring and later returning to the sport.
Faber retired from MMA competition in 2016 after a legendary career that saw him compete at the highest levels of the sport for over a decade. The match represented his foray into pure wrestling competition against elite-level opponents.
