The Professional Fighters League’s 2026 PFL MENA season commenced at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, delivering an exciting evening of tournament competition, exhibition bouts, and potential breakout performances from athletes across the region.
The featherweight tournament main event showcased a high-stakes confrontation between the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammad Yahya and Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi. This bout was anticipated to have significant implications for the featherweight final standings.
PFL MENA 9: Pride of Arabia Highlights
In the lightweight tournament’s co-main event, a quarterfinal bout featured the undefeated Moroccan contender Salah Eddine Hamli against Algeria’s Ylies Djiroun. Hamli aimed to extend his winning streak, while Djiroun sought to leverage his experience to advance.
Another featherweight tournament quarterfinal saw Hamza Kooheji face Taha Bendaoud in a crucial opening-round matchup, with a spot in the semi-finals at stake in a highly competitive division.
Rising Emirati prospect Zamzam Al Hammadi made her much-awaited PFL MENA debut in a women’s strawweight amateur showcase against Abeer Mansour. Competing on home soil, Al Hammadi’s performance was one of the most anticipated showcase appearances of the night.
The lightweight tournament continued with a quarterfinal clash between Mohammad Fahmi and Assem Ghanem, both vying for a place in the semi-finals and aiming to establish themselves as early contenders in the division.
Ahmed El Sisy and Harda Karim met in another lightweight tournament quarterfinal, with significant implications for the bracket. Additionally, Basel Shalaan and Abdullah Saleem faced off in an official lightweight tournament quarterfinal bout following adjustments to the fight card, further intensifying the lightweight division’s competition.
In flyweight showcase action, Hamad Marhoon battled Saher Qasmieh in what was expected to be a fast-paced contest. Ahmed Albrahim and Ibrahim Mahmoud also clashed in a welterweight showcase bout. The evening’s card opened with a featherweight amateur showcase featuring Butti Suwaid Alameri against Hamada Osman.
PFL MENA: DUBAI – PRIDE OF ARABIA BOUT RESULTS
- Mohammad Yahya vs. Mehdi Saadi
- Salah Eddine Hamli vs. Ylies Djiroun
- Hamza Kooheji vs. Taha Bendaoud
- Zamzam Al Hammadi vs. Abeer Mansour
- Mohammad Fahmi vs. Assem Ghanem
- Basel Shalaan defeated Abdullah Saleem via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ahmed El Sisy defeated Harda Karim via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Saher Qasmieh defeated Hamad Marhoon via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ahmed Albrahim defeated Ibrahim Mahmoud via TKO (ground and pound) in Round 3 at 2:47
- Butti Suwaid Alameri defeated Hamada Osman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) (Amateur)
