In a dramatic turn of events just hours before the first bell, the highly anticipated RAF 8 main event between Merab Dvalishvili and Henry "Triple C" Cejudo has been scrapped. Cejudo, the former UFC two-division champion, suffered an undisclosed injury, forcing his withdrawal from the scheduled headliner in Philadelphia.
This is a major blow to fight fans, as the bout was a rematch of their UFC 298 clash, where Dvalishvili earned a decision win. Cejudo, who came out of retirement for a successful RAF debut earlier this year, appeared alongside Dvalishvili at Friday's press conference to promote the fight, making the last-minute cancellation all the more surprising.
With the main event off the card, the promotion has swiftly reshuffled the lineup. The spotlight now shifts to a compelling lightweight showdown between top UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan and MMA legend Urijah Faber, which has been elevated to the main event. The light heavyweight title fight between Kyle Snyder and Rizabek Aitmukhan moves up to the co-main event slot.
While the cancellation of the Dvalishvili-Cejudo rematch is disappointing, the new main event promises high-level action. RAF 8 proceeds tonight, streaming live on FOX Nation, proving that in combat sports, the show must always go on—even when the biggest names are forced to step aside.
