RIYADH: The highly anticipated PFL MENA 3 fight night took place in Riyadh鈥檚 Boulevard City on Sept. 20, showcasing the best of MMA talent across the Middle East and North Africa.
Fighters in bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions competed, looking to secure a place in the PFL MENA finals, with an eye on the inaugural championship titles.
In the night鈥檚 headliner, the main card saw Abdelrahman Alhyasat from Jordan squared off against 黑料社区鈥檚 Abdullah Al-Qahtani in a high-stakes bantamweight contest. Alhyasat emerged victorious in a closely contested bout, using superior technique and strategy to outpoint the Saudi fighter. This victory moves Alhyasat one step closer to fighting for the bantamweight title in the finals, solidifying his reputation as one of the division鈥檚 top contenders.
In a major upset, Egypt鈥檚 Omar El-Dafrawy defeated Jordan鈥檚 experienced Jarrah Al-Selawe in the night鈥檚 only TKOUT (technical knockout). El-Dafrawy鈥檚 aggressive and well-timed striking outclassed Al-Selawe, who struggled to establish his rhythm. With this victory, El-Dafrawy advances to the next stage of the welterweight division, positioning himself as a potential title contender.
Other key fights featured Mohammad Alaqraa of Kuwait, who remained undefeated after besting Iraq鈥檚 Amir Fazli in a lightweight matchup. Alaqraa鈥檚 grappling and control throughout the fight helped him to maintain his winning streak and move closer to the PFL MENA finals.
In a featherweight clash, Mohsen Mohammadseifi of Iraq triumphed over Algeria鈥檚 Souhil Tairi. Mohammadseifi showcased his wrestling skills and ground control to neutralize Tairi鈥檚 striking, securing a crucial win as he eyes the finals. Iran鈥檚 Ali Taleb delivered a dominant performance against Jalal Al-Daaja from Jordan, further establishing his place in the featherweight division. His tactical striking and control throughout the fight ensured a comfortable victory.
In the lightweight division, Egypt鈥檚 Islam Reda outlasted Morocco鈥檚 Marouane Bellagquit in a well-fought contest, securing a key win and advancing toward the finals.
Rachid El-Hazoume of Morocco put in a powerful performance against Algeria鈥檚 Elias Boudegzdame, while Georges Eid of Lebanon edged out Tunisia鈥檚 Omar Reguigui in a tightly contested bout.
The opening bout saw Adam Meskini of Morocco take on Jordan鈥檚 Yazeed Hasanain in another bantamweight clash. Meskini鈥檚 quick reflexes and precise striking carried him to victory, adding another name to the list of fighters making significant strides toward the finals.
Home-crowd victory: Malik Basahel vs. Saher Qasmieh
One of the evening鈥檚 most celebrated wins came from 黑料社区鈥檚 Malik Basahel, who earned a hard-fought victory over Jordan鈥檚 Saher Qasmieh in the bantamweight division. Basahel鈥檚 win in front of the Riyadh crowd was a highlight of the night, boosting his standing and momentum as he advances in his journey with the PFL MENA.
With the PFL MENA 3 event concluded, the fighters now shift their focus to the PFL MENA finals, where they will compete for the inaugural championship belts. The night delivered top-level MMA action, with fighters demonstrating high skill levels and fierce competitiveness. Fans in the region are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this debut season, as the competition heats up and the road to the finals becomes clearer.
