PFL MENA 1 Inaugural Event: Riyadh Rumbles with Unforgettable MMA Action!
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (May 10, 2024) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) launched its groundbreaking inaugural season of PFL MENA at The Green Halls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday. Athletes in the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions showcased their skills, earning spots in the PFL MENA Playoffs. Key moments of the 2024 PFL MENA 1: Riyadh results! Full results below! (2 Minute read).
- Abdullah Al-Qahtani Secures Featherweight Semifinals Spot with Convincing Victory over Yazeed Hasanain
- Ali Taleb Displays Commanding Performance, Advances to Bantamweight Semifinals by Outclassing Nawras Abzakh
- Hattan Alsaif Delivers Memorable Knockout in PFL Debut
2024 PFL Mena 1: Inaugural Event Showcases Al-Qahtani and Alsaif’s Dominance in Riyadh
In the headline bout, Abdullah Al-Qahtani delighted his hometown supporters with a dominant performance against Yazeed Hasanain of Jordan, leading to a verbal submission victory and securing a place in the PFL MENA Featherweight Semifinals.
Meanwhile, Ali Taleb of Iraq demonstrated his prowess, controlling the fight from start to finish against Nawras Abzakh of Jordan to claim a unanimous decision victory and secure a berth in the Bantamweight Semifinals. Taleb’s professional record now stands at an impressive 11-1.
Morocco’s Rachid El Hazoume showcased his submission expertise, forcing Xavier Alaoui of Morocco to tap out to a rear-naked choke in the second round, thus advancing to the Bantamweight Semi Finals with a career record of 14-3.
Egypt’s Islam Reda exhibited a solid performance, securing a unanimous decision victory over Morocco’s Adam Meskini to advance to the PFL MENA Featherweight Semi Finals. Reda’s win marks his fifth consecutive victory, improving his career record to 11-1.
Jordan’s Jalal Al Daaja secured his place in the PFL MENA Playoffs after a closely contested bout against Sudan’s Tariq Ismail, resulting in a majority draw. Al Daaja’s career record now stands at 12-7.
History Made in Riyadh: Recap of 2024 PFL Mena 1: Riyadh Spectacular Debut Event!
In the Bantamweight division, Algeria’s Elias Boudegzdame became the first fighter to advance to the PFL MENA Playoffs with a slick second-round guillotine submission win over Egypt’s Hassan Mandour, bringing his MMA career record to 19-8.
Saudi Arabia’s own Hattan Alsaif made a remarkable MMA debut, delivering a stunning knockout via head kick against Egypt’s Nada Faheem in the second round of their Women’s Flyweight amateur showcase bout. Alsaif’s historic victory marks her as the first female from Saudi Arabia to sign a contract with a major MMA promotion.
Featherweight action saw Morocco’s Maraoune Bellagouit secure a spot in the Semi Finals with a powerful left hook that knocked out Egypt’s Mido Mohamed in the third round, maintaining his undefeated record at 5-0.
In the opening Featherweight bout of the PFL MENA season, Jordan’s Abdelrahman Alhyasat outperformed Egypt’s Ahmed Tarek to claim a unanimous decision victory and move on to the Semi Finals, improving his professional record to 4-0.
Kicking off the action, Saudi Arabia’s Malik Basahel displayed dominance, earning a unanimous decision victory over India’s Harsh Pandya in a Flyweight amateur showcase bout, bringing his career record to an impressive 19-2-1.
Complete 2024 PFL MENA 1: Riyadh RESULTS
Featherweight Bout:
🔵 Abdullah Al-Qahtani defeats Yazeed Hasanain by Verbal Submission (Punches) at 4:59 of Round 2
Bantamweight Bout:
🔴 Ali Taleb defeats Nawras Abzakh by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Bantamweight Bout:
🔵 Rachid El Hazoume defeats Xavier Alaoui by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:55 of Round 2
Featherweight Bout:
🔴 Islam Reda defeats Adam Meskini by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight Bout:
🔵 Jalal Al Daaja defeats Tariq Ismail by Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Bantamweight Bout:
🔴 Elias Boudegzdame defeats Hassan Mandour by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:53 of Round 2
Women’s Atomweight Bout – Amateur:
🔵 Hattan Alsaif defeats Nada Faheem by KO (Head Kick) at 0:41 of Round 2
Featherweight Bout:
🔴 Maraoune Bellagouit defeats Mido Mohamed by TKO (Punch) at 4:12 of Round 3
Featherweight Bout:
🔵 Abdelrahman Alhyasat defeats Ahmed Tarek by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-27)
Flyweight Bout – Amateur:
🔴 Malik Basahel defeats Harsh Pandya by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)