The Professional Fighters League (PFL) launched its 2026 season in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena, delivering an exciting night of tournament fights, exhibition bouts, and the emergence of new regional talent.
The featherweight tournament main event saw a highly anticipated clash between the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammad Yahya and Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi. This bout was crucial for positioning within the featherweight bracket, with significant implications for reaching the final.
PFL MENA 9: Pride of Arabia – Tournament Details
In the lightweight tournament co-main event, undefeated Moroccan contender Salah Eddine Hamli faced Algeria’s Ylies Djiroun in a quarterfinal matchup. Hamli aimed to maintain his impressive streak, while Djiroun sought to leverage his experience to advance to the semifinals.
Another featherweight tournament quarterfinal featured Hamza Kooheji against Taha Bendaoud. Both fighters competed for a spot in the semifinals, aiming to solidify their standing in a competitive division.
The much-awaited PFL MENA debut of rising Emirati prospect Zamzam Al Hammadi occurred in a women’s strawweight amateur showcase against Abeer Mansour. Competing on home soil, Al Hammadi’s performance was a focal point of the evening.
In a lightweight tournament quarterfinal, Mohammad Fahmi met Assem Ghanem, with a place in the semifinals on the line. Both fighters aimed to seize the opportunity and establish themselves as early contenders in the division.
Ahmed El Sisy and Harda Karim clashed in another lightweight tournament quarterfinal, with significant consequences for the tournament bracket. Following card adjustments, Basel Shalaan and Abdullah Saleem also met in an official lightweight tournament quarterfinal, adding further depth to the night’s lightweight action.
The flyweight showcase featured a dynamic bout between Hamad Marhoon and Saher Qasmieh. Additionally, Ahmed Albrahim and Ibrahim Mahmoud competed in a welterweight showcase, while Butti Suwaid Alameri and Hamada Osman opened the card with a featherweight amateur showcase.
PFL MENA: DUBAI – PRIDE OF ARABIA OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Mehdi Saadi (7-2) defeated Mohammad Yahya (12-7) via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
- Ylies Djiroun (25-9) defeated Salah Eddine Hamli (11-1) via TKO (punches) at 4:20 of Round 1
- Hamza Kooheji (15-4) defeated Taha Bendaoud (5-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Zamzam Al Hammadi (3-0) defeated Abeer Mansour (2-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) (Amateur)
- Basel Shalaan (6-1) defeated Abdullah Saleem (6-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ahmed El Sisy (8-2) defeated Harda Karim (5-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Saher Qasmieh (3-0) defeated Hamad Marhoon (1-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Ahmed Albrahim (1-0) defeated Ibrahim Mahmoud (0-1) via TKO (ground and pound) at 2:47 of Round 3
- Butti Suwaid Alameri (1-0) defeated Hamada Osman (3-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) (Amateur)