Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber: Legends Return to Their Roots at RAF06

The RAF 6 headliner pits Henry Cejudo against Urijah Faber two names synonymous with elite competition, relentless grit and a wrestling pedigree worthy of an RAF event.

Fight fans may know Urijah Faber as the man who brought the lower weight classes into the MMA and Henry Cejudo as the man who saved them from being cut, wrestling fans know that none of it would be possible without their skillset on the wrestling mat.

Both men may be known more for what they accomplished inside the cage, this matchup feels tailor-made for the wrestling audience. Strip away the gloves and the fight kit and what’s left is a clash of experience and wrestling skillsets that were first introduced to the world in the late 90s.

Cejudo built his reputation in the mid-2000s when he decided to forego a college career and commit to the Olympic training center. The risky decision paid off in full when Cejudo stormed Beijing and became, at the time, the youngest American wrestler to claim a gold medal. Cejudo’s wrestling has always been about explosive entries, footwork fundamentals, perfect balance and an ability to dictate where exchanges and scrambles take place. Even when his career transitioned to MMA superstardom, his elite wrestling base remained the foundation of everything he did.

In a pure wrestling environment, Cejudo’s advantages are tough for anyone to overcome. His chain wrestling and mid-scramble adjustments are the traits that separate good competitors from Olympic legends.

Across from him stands Urijah Faber, a wrestler turned MMA Hall of Famer whose credentials don’t always get the respect they deserve. Faber may not have been an Olympian but his collegiate wrestling base and decades of high-level competition have shaped him into one of the smartest grapplers of his generation.

In his time at UC-Davis, Faber would set the school record for wins and qualify for the National tournament twice. His style has always leaned toward pressure, constant movement and a willingness to make every exchange uncomfortable. “The California Kid” has competed in wrestling, kickboxing, MMA and submission grappling and never once been an easy night out, even when on paper, he should have been.

What makes Faber especially dangerous in a wrestling-focused matchup is his grit, adaptability and athleticism. He understands leverage and how to win scrambles that look lost to everybody else in the room. He’s spent a career dealing with elite grapplers and wrestlers and that experience shows in how he reacts rather than forces positions.

From a wrestling perspective, this match is about who controls the tempo. Cejudo thrives when he can set traps and explode into clean finishes. Faber does his best work when the match goes kinetic and conditioning and athleticism become a weapon.

Regardless of who gets their hand raised, Cejudo–Faber is exactly the kind of matchup RAF was built to deliver. It’s a reminder that wrestling isn’t just a background, it's a main event skill set, and at RAF06, it’s on full display.

Catch Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber LIVE from Tempe on Saturday, January 10 only on Fox Nation!