DUBAI: Fans enjoyed a thrilling night of action featuring several local and regional fighters as the Professional Fighters League kicked off the 2026 PFL MENA season at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
The UAE’s Mohammad Yahya faced Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi in the featherweight tournament’s main event,. Saadi opened the bout by landing heavy calf kicks, forcing MMA veteran Yahya to change stances. The hometown hero, “UAE Warrior,” responded with heavy straights to push his opponent back while the second round saw the two trade leg kicks, knees and punches in a close contest. Yahya stung with sharp punches to control round three before the split-decision loss.
Saadi was ecstatic to have his hand raised by the referee. He said: “It’s difficult to describe this sensation. Yahya was a very tough opponent so I feel amazing to have come out victorious and I’m proud of my performance.”
The co-main event featured a lightweight tournament quarterfinal between Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli and Algeria’s Ylies Djiroun. The Moroccan pressed in the clinch but met unrelenting power as Djiroun landed a combination of punches to the head and body which earned him a first round TKO.
He said afterwards: “I didn’t have any real game plan; I just wanted to push him. And I knew if I pushed him on his cardio, my fitness would outlast him. I realized after the first situation on the ground, if we stand up, it’s finished for him.”
In another featherweight tournament quarterfinal, Hamza Kooheji controlled the contest against Taha Bendaoud in a pivotal opening-round clash. Kooheji, who won via unanimous decision, said: “I dominated the whole fight so was confident when it went to a judges’ decision. I was very effective with my takedowns and happy with my performance. I can’t wait for the PFL semifinal.”
Rising Emirati prospect Zamzam Al-Hammadi made her highly anticipated PFL MENA debut in the women’s strawweight amateur showcase against Abeer Mansour and earned a hard-fought decision.
The 18-year-old was delighted to triumph in front of a home crowd in Dubai and said: “It was fantastic fighting in front of my mum for the first time. I saw my shadow as I walked out and was astonished by the amount of support I had at the Coca-Cola Arena. I can’t wait to get back in the Smartcage again in the PFL and hopefully I can get another victory.”
Mohammad Fahmi got a pass to the next round of this tournament when his scheduled opponent, Assem Ghanem, dropped out due to injury. Fahmi said: “I was ready to fight in my home country of UAE but these things happen. I hope the next PFL MENA fight is in Dubai as well so I can showcase my talent.”
Ahmed El-Sisy took a hard-earned win over Harda Karim in another lightweight tournament quarterfinal with major implications for the division. El-Sisy was happy to overcome a tough challenger, saying: “I followed my plan and felt sharp out there. He (Harda Karim) was a really tough opponent. I won the first round and then made a stupid mistake in the second which cost me the round. I’m delighted that I corrected everything in the third to win the fight.”
After being elevated to tournament status following changes to the card, Basel Shalaan and Abdullah Saleem met in an official lightweight tournament quarterfinal bout, with Shalaan taking the nod after a back-and-forth match. The Egyptian said: “I’m so proud to have won here in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena and show my skills to the UAE fans. I’ve been away from the cage for two years so it was a great opportunity for PFL — the best organization in the world. I’m very happy to get this victory and hopefully I can win the PFL MENA belt.”
Shalaan, El-Sisy, Fahmi and Djiroun now advance to the semifinal round of the lightweight tournament.
In flyweight showcase action, Hamad Marhoon faced Saher Qasmieh in a fast-paced contest, with Jordan’s Qasmieh edging out a narrow split-decision win.
Ahmed Albrahim delivered a one-sided performance against Ibrahim Mahmoud in a welterweight showcase, securing a TKO victory through ground-and-pound.
Opening the card, Butti Suwaid Alameri earned a dominant unanimous decision win over Hamada Osman in a featherweight amateur showcase bout.
