Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: PFL MENA returned to Boulevard Studios in Riyadh with an action-packed fight card that featured knockout finishes, dominant performances, and crucial tournament victories as the region’s top mixed martial artists battled for places in the upcoming semifinals.
The headline attraction belonged to Saudi Arabia’s rising MMA star Hattan Alsaif, who made a memorable professional debut by defeating Algeria’s Dania Ouhachi via second-round TKO. After surviving an early submission threat, Alsaif thrilled the home crowd with a powerful overhand right that dropped her opponent before finishing the contest with ground-and-pound, marking a dream start to her professional career.
In the co-main event, Jordan’s Hazem Kayyali earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Lebanon’s Hassan Shaaban to secure his place in the PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament semifinals. Kayyali controlled the opening round with effective leg and head kicks before maintaining his composure over the remaining rounds to book his semifinal appearance on October 2 in Riyadh.
Saudi fighter Malik Basahel continued his unbeaten run with a unanimous decision victory over Morocco’s Imad El Azami, showcasing outstanding grappling skills in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd.
The Welterweight Tournament semifinals are now set following victories by Abdelkrim Zouad, Omar Hussein, Badreddine Diani, and Hazem Kayyali, all of whom advanced after impressive performances.
In the Featherweight Tournament, Algeria’s Elias Boudegzdame secured a first-round technical submission victory over Hussein Salem, while Syria’s undefeated Shadi Kabbani advanced with a unanimous decision win over Ahmed Tarek.
Other notable performances included Rayan Atmani’s spectacular first-round knockout victory over Eslam Mostafa, while Saudi Arabia’s Saud Almolhem earned a convincing unanimous decision victory over Abdelhalim Elhoufy.
The successful event once again highlighted the rapid growth of mixed martial arts across the Middle East, with PFL MENA continuing to provide a major platform for regional athletes to compete on the international stage. The tournament now moves toward its highly anticipated semifinal event, scheduled for October 2 in Riyadh.
