The upcoming Real American Freestyle (RAF) 6 event will showcase a strong lineup of fighters, including prominent figures from the mixed martial arts world. Among the participants is Arman Tsarukyan, who is scheduled to compete again after a successful debut earlier this year. This event will take place on February 28 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona, progressing the growing reputation of RAF since its launch in 2025.
Highlights of the RAF 6 Fight Card Revealed
Headlining RAF 6 is a lightweight showdown between Henry Cejudo and Urijah Faber, both celebrated veterans of the UFC and other combat sports circuits. Cejudo, a two-division UFC champion who retired last December, will meet Faber, a former WEC featherweight champion now on a winning streak across submission grappling and combat jiu-jitsu contests. The card also features Clay Guida, a UFC Hall of Famer, returning for his second bout under the RAF banner after a recent loss at RAF 3.
Guida, nicknamed ‘The Carpenter’, faces Keelon Jimison in an effort to secure his first victory within RAF. In addition to these main names, other well-known fighters like former UFC champion Benson Henderson, ex-UFC flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev, and three-time UFC title challenger Chad Mendes will take part in the event.
Arman Tsarukyan’s Role and UFC Future Questions
Arman Tsarukyan, an Armenian lightweight contender, first appeared under the RAF banner in January on the undercard supporting Colby Covington’s victory over Luke Rockhold. He will co-headline RAF 6 against Georgio Poullas, once again playing a pivotal role ahead of the headline fighters. Despite continuing to compete in grappling and other combat sports outside the UFC, Tsarukyan’s future in the Octagon remains unclear amid recent developments in the UFC lightweight division.
After the UFC scheduled an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, Tsarukyan was notably left out of title contention. Reflecting on this situation during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, he stated,
“I’m not getting Gaethje, I’m not getting anybody.”
Tsarukyan also revealed plans to possibly shift weight classes to 145 pounds, saying,
“I’m going to try to get the title at 145 (pounds)… I talked to coach Cal, we did the math and everything, so my body can go to 145. He’s saying it’s not easy, but we can make it happen.”
He further explained,
“If we know two to three weeks before that we’re fighting at 145, we can make it happen. Because I walk around not big, 177-175. If I start eating clean and do more cardio, I’m gonna be 165-166. And then from there I can go down.”
Significance of RAF 6 and What Lies Ahead for Tsarukyan
This RAF 6 event marks another step in the rise of Real American Freestyle, which has quickly become a platform for established and former UFC athletes to showcase their skills. The event’s strong card, featuring fighters like Henry Cejudo, Urijah Faber, Clay Guida, and Arman Tsarukyan, underscores RAF’s ambition within the MMA landscape. For Tsarukyan, taking fights on this card offers continued visibility while he evaluates his path forward regarding the UFC lightweight division.
With his potential move to 145 pounds and an active presence in competitions outside the UFC, Tsarukyan’s next steps could reshape his career trajectory, especially if he secures titles in other promotions or forces pathways back into UFC contention. Meanwhile, the February 28 event at Mullett Arena promises to deliver high-level bouts for fans and may influence fighters’ futures across multiple organizations.
RAF06 FULL CARD 🔥
Tickets in bio. Watch FEB 28 at 9 PM EST exclusively on @foxnation pic.twitter.com/BjN2I2Rc5g
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA) February 2, 2026
