JEDDAH: Jeddah is set for an action-packed night this Friday with the launch of the second season of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) at Onyx Arena. The event marks a major highlight in the 2025 mixed martial arts calendar for fighters from the Middle East and North Africa.
Headlining the card, Iranian lightweight champion Mohsen Mohammad Saifi will defend his title against Egypt’s Ahmed El-Sisi. Also in the lightweight division, Algeria’s Suhail Thaeri will square off against Kuwait’s Abdullah Saleem, making his return after a season-long suspension due to doping.
Other notable lightweight bouts include Bahrain’s Abbas Khan versus Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli, and Lebanon’s George Eid taking on Iraq’s Mohammed Fahmi.
In the featherweight division, Jordan’s Abdulrahman Hayasat— riding a five-fight win streak— returns after missing last season’s final due to injury. He will face unbeaten Moroccan Taha Ben Daoud. Elsewhere in the division, Jordan’s Ezzedine Al-Derbani will meet Algeria’s Mohamed Amin, while Iraq’s Hussein Salem faces Egypt’s Assem Ghanem.
In another featured bout, Egypt’s Islam Reda will go up against Algeria’s Akram Nasri, who steps in for injured Saudi champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani, last season’s gold belt holder.
Capping off the official fight card, Saudi veteran Ahmed Makki, whose career spans 26 years, will take on Egypt’s Hisham Al-Nimr.
The exhibition matches will include the debut of Saudi fighter Abdulaziz Bin Muammar against Morocco’s Fares Hamdani in the open weight division. In the flyweight category, Saudi fighter Malik Bashel will face Morocco’s Montaser Boutouta.
