PFL MENA season 2 opens with world-class talent in Jeddah on Friday
JEDDAH: The second season of PFL MENA begins this Friday at the Onyx Arena in Jeddah, featuring world-class talent from the Middle East North Africa region.
Headlining the card is a high-stakes lightweight showdown between reigning champion Mohsen Mohammadseifi from Iran and rising contender Ahmed El-Sisy from Egypt.
The division also features a trio of compelling matchups, with Algeria's Souhil Tahiri taking on Kuwait's Abdullah Saleem, and Bahrain's Abbas Khan squaring off against Moroccan striker Salah Eddine Hamli.
The featherweight division promises equal intensity.
Jordan's Abdelrahman Alhyasat, riding the momentum of a five-fight win streak, faces a formidable challenge in undefeated Moroccan Taha Bendaoud.
In other featured featherweight contests, Jordan's Izzeddine Al-Derbani meets Algerian standout Mohamed Amine, while Iraq's Hussein Salem takes on Egypt's Assem Ghanem.
Adding to the excitement are several exhibition bouts, including Saudi Arabia's Abdulaziz bin Moammar making his debut against Morocco's Fares Hamdani in a catchweight fight.
The flyweight division will see local favorite Malik Basahel clash with Algeria's Mountassir Boutouta.
The evening will also spotlight women's MMA, with undefeated Kuwaiti talent Eman Almudhaf going toe-to-toe with Brazil's Shamara Braga in a featherweight contest that promises fireworks.
Stacked with world-class talent, the PFL's return to Jeddah sets the stage for a thrilling 2025 season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
21-05-2025
- Arab News
Zamzam Al-Hammadi: UAE teen fighter making history in the cage and beyond
Riyadh: At just 17, Zamzam Al-Hammadi is rapidly emerging as one of the Middle East's most promising athletes and a trailblazer for women in combat sports. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Emirati martial artist recently took center stage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh, where she joined an elite panel of regional sports pioneers to discuss the evolving role of women in athletics. The summit, hosted at the St. Regis Riyadh, was aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and brought together more than 125 influential women from across sectors. Al-Hammadi spoke during the 'Playing to Win: Women, Sports, and Breaking Barriers' panel alongside motorsport driver Mashael Al-Obaidan, boxing advocate Rasha Alkhamis, and Aalia Al-Rasheed, head of the women's football department at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. A decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts competitor, Al-Hammadi has already clinched global youth titles under the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and JJIF World Youth Championships. Now, she is poised to make history as the first female fighter from the UAE to sign a professional MMA contract with the Professional Fighters League. 'Joining the PFL is a dream come true,' Al-Hammadi said. 'Being a part of the PFL MENA roster means that I'll be competing on a bigger platform, and more eyes will be on me. That reach opens the door for global sponsorships, endorsements and partnerships, and that's going to be a massive deal for me and my family.' Her rise reflects a broader momentum in women's sports across the region. With an unbeaten amateur record and a growing following, Al-Hammadi is set to debut in the second season of PFL MENA, a league that has already reshaped the regional MMA landscape. Being the first female fighter from the UAE to become a professional in MMA comes with a responsibility, Al-Hammadi said. 'I want to be one of the best to ever step foot inside the PFL SmartCage. I want to become a champion, and I want to be able to inspire young athletes, young girls like myself, to follow their dreams and work toward achieving their goals, especially in an industry where there aren't a lot of female fighters that come from the Middle East.' Al-Hammadi's passion for martial arts runs deep. She comes from a family of fighters, with her sister Ghala also training in combat sports and her mother, Nada Al-Nuaymi, a seasoned judo and jiu-jitsu practitioner. This generational dedication emphasizes her position as both a pioneer and a role model. Speaking at the summit, Al-Hammadi highlighted the rapid growth of MMA, particularly for women. She said that the sport has never let them down. 'Now, if we watch, all around the world, the fans are cheering for the females more than the males, so this is something good,' she said. She also praised SURJ Sports Investment, whose partnership with the PFL has been central to the success of the league's expansion into the Middle East. 'For me, SURJ Sports Investment is really helping the PFL to organize, especially now that we have four events in the Middle East,' Al-Hammadi said. 'When it comes to martial arts, most people are thinking outside of the Middle East, but now after seeing and discovering the talent that we have here in the Middle East, and also in Africa, for me it's just awesome.' As she prepares for her professional debut in the PFL SmartCage, Al-Hammadi remains focused on both performance and purpose. Her goal: Not only to win titles but to pave the way for a new generation of female fighters in the Arab world. 'More than just making history,' she said, 'I want to make an impact.'
Saudi Gazette
17-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Al Hilal survive Al Fateh scare to stay second in Pro League
Saudi Gazette report AL AHSA — Al Hilal staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Al Fateh 4-3 in a pulsating clash on Friday night, strengthening their grip on second place in the Saudi Pro League and edging closer to qualification for next season's AFC Champions League Elite. In one of the most thrilling matches of the season, Al Hilal came from behind three times at Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium before Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic sealed victory in second-half stoppage time with his second goal of the night. The win took Al Hilal to 71 points, firmly in second place behind newly crowned champions Al Ittihad. Meanwhile, Al Fateh remain on 33 points and winless in their last eight league outings. The hosts took a shock 2-0 lead through a quick-fire brace from Algerian midfielder Sofiane Bendebka in the 15th and 24th minutes. Al Hilal thought they had a penalty to pull one back, but the decision was overturned following VAR review. Coach Mohammed Al Shalhoub made bold first-half changes, introducing Nasser Al Dawsari and young Brazilian Kaio. The move paid off as Al Dawsari smashed in Al Hilal's first goal early in the second half. Captain Salem Al Dawsari then levelled in the 60th minute with a composed finish from a Malcom assist, only for Murad Batna to strike again for Fateh in the 82nd minute with a rocket from distance. But Al Hilal weren't done. Mitrovic equalized with a bullet header and then completed the turnaround with a clinical finish in added time. Al Fateh thought they had salvaged a point when Matías Vargas scored deep into stoppage time, but VAR ruled it out for offside. With the league race nearly over, Al Hilal now look to cement second place and their spot in the AFC Elite competition, with two matches left to play.
Saudi Gazette
15-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Al Ittihad's last-gasp legend: A title season written in stoppage time
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Ittihad's 14th Saudi Pro League title will not be remembered as just another championship win — it was a season defined by drama, resilience, and an unshakable will to fight until the very last whistle. Nicknamed by fans as 'Ittihad Time,' the Jeddah club earned a reputation for stunning late winners throughout their triumphant 2024-25 campaign — scoring 12 goals beyond the 90th minute, collecting a crucial 30 points from those dramatic finishes. Without them, the title could have easily slipped away. These final moments mirrored the famous 'Fergie Time' era of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, with Al Ittihad repeatedly flipping matches in stoppage time, including nine matches with match-winning goals and three matches salvaged by late equalizers. Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar stood out as the king of the clutch, scoring five goals after the 90th minute, each directly securing victories. From the season opener against Al-Kholood to the pivotal late winner against Al Nassr on Matchday 30, Aouar was the face of Ittihad's Ittihad finished 31 rounds of the season with 72 goals, scored by 15 different players. Star striker Karim Benzema led the way with 21 goals, followed by Aouar with 12, Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn with 10, and Abdulrahman Al Aboud with six — his highest league tally since joining the title marked a shift in identity for Al Ittihad. While their 2022-23 title under Nuno Espírito Santo was built on defensive discipline and a league-record 19 clean sheets, the 2024-25 triumph under French tactician Laurent Blanc was driven by attacking flair and high Ittihad scored 12 more goals than the previous title-winning team and boasted a 59% average possession, compared to 51% under Santo. While the defense conceded 32 goals, more than twice as many as in their previous title season (13), their attacking edge proved defensive vulnerabilities, Blanc guided the team to eight clean sheets and engineered a system where possession and pressing delivered results — cementing his tactical shift from the previous defensive Ittihad eyes a potential domestic double with the King's Cup final against Al Qadsiah, this season will be remembered for more than just silverware. It will go down as the year when Al Ittihad built their championship legacy in the dying minutes — and rewrote the script of title-winning football in Saudi Arabia.
