RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (4 JULY, 2025) – PFL MENA heads to the Semifinals after another exciting night of fights at The Green Halls, with incredible performances from the best fighters in the Middle East.
2024 PFL MENA Welterweight Champion Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) sent the fans home happy with a phenomenal first-round submission win over Daniele Miceli (13-7, 1 NC) in their Welterweight Showcase main event bout. Miceli scored an early takedown but found himself trapped inside a deep triangle choke from El Dafrawy. Miceli tried to escape, but El Dafrawy held on and forced the tap at the 1:15 mark of the opening round.
In the co-main event, 2024 PFL Welterweight Runner-up Mohammad Alaqraa (8-1) was relentless as he put the pressure on Omar Hussein (11-7) for nearly all three rounds and earned a clear-cut unanimous decision win and advanced in the PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament. Alaqraa turned in a well-rounded performance to earn a 30-27 score from all the judges and book a return trip to the Semifinals.
Saudi women’s MMA pioneer Hattan Alsaif (4-0 AM) thrilled the crowd in Riyadh once again as she stopped Nour Al Fliti (1-2 AM) by TKO at the 2:24 mark of the second round of their Atomweight Amateur Showcase bout. Alsaif, who had the support of the hometown crowd, punished Al Fliti with knees and kicks, ultimately leading to the injury stoppage.
In an all-out war that saw moments of wild striking and masterful grappling, Mohamed Zarey (10-1) pulled off a unanimous decision victory over Ayman Galal (4-2, 1 NC) to reach the Semifinals of the PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament. Zarey weathered an early storm from Galal in the first round to pick up the big win in his PFL debut. Zarey will face 2024 runner up Mohammad Alaqraa next.
Xavier Alaoui (16-6) wrestled his way to a unanimous decision win over Ziad Ayman (6-2) to move into the PFL MENA Bantamweight Tournament Semifinals. Alaoui, who trains alongside MMA legend Georges St-Pierre at the Tristar Gym in Montreal, controlled the fight with his high-level grappling, and earned a 30-27 score from all three judges.
57 seconds was all Mokhtar Benkaci (25-9, 2 NC) needed to finish off Marcel Adur (19-8-1) by TKO in the opening round. A left hand to the body led to the stoppage win for Benkaci, who advanced to the Semifinals of the PFL MENA Bantamweight Tournament.
In an exciting bout that went the three-round distance, Badreddine Diani (9-3) earned a unanimous decision victory over Ahmed Abdelbast Darwish (4-1) to return to the PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament Semifinals. Diani was one step ahead of Darwish all throughout the fight and did enough to earn the 29-28 nod on all of the judges’ scorecards.
Wushu Sanda World Champion Amir Fazli (7-3) landed a well-placed right hand to knock out Rostem Akman (7-4) at the 1:34 mark of the second round. Fazli clinches a spot in the PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament Semifinals, where he’ll meet Badreddine Diani in a rematch from last season.
Former UAE Warriors and Desert Force Champion Nawras Abzakh (13-6) moves one step closer to adding a PFL Championship to his resume with a second round KO win over Ali Yazbeck (5-1-1) to advance in the PFL MENA Bantamweight Tournament. Abzakh dropped Yazbeck with a flurry of punches before ending things with thunderous ground and pound, 50 seconds into the second frame. He will face Mokhtar Benkaci in the Semifinals.
Islam Youssef (6-2) stepped in on short notice and scored a massive second round KO win, putting Benyamin Ghahreman (3-1) to sleep with a flying knee at the 3:55 mark to advance to the PFL MENA Bantamweight Tournament Semifinals, where he’ll face Xavier Alaoui.
Finally, in the opening bout of the night, Abdelrahman Alhyasat (6-0) was dominant in his move up to 155 pounds, submitting Anthony Zeidan (5-3) by rear naked choke at 2:50 of the second round to remain undefeated in his MMA career.
PFL MENA Riyadh – RESULTS
Showcase Welterweight Bout:
Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) def. Daniele Miceli (13-7, 1 NC) by first-round submission (triangle choke) at 1:15
Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Mohammad Alaqraa (8-1) def. Omar Hussein (11-7) by unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Atomweight Amateur Showcase Bout:
Hattan Alsaif (4-0 AM) def. Nour Al Fliti (1-2 AM) by second round TKO at 2:24
Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Mohamed Zarey (10-1) def. Ayman Galal (4-2, 1 NC) by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Xavier Alaoui (16-6) def. Ziad Ayman (6-2) by unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Mokhtar Benkaci (25-9, 2 NC) def. Marcel Adur (19-8-1) by first round TKO at 0:57
Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Badreddine Diani (9-3) def. Ahmed Abdelbast Darwish (4-1) by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Amir Fazli (7-3) def. Rostem Akman (7-4) by second round KO at 1:34.
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Nawras Abzakh (13-6) def. Ali Yazbeck (5-1-1) by second round KO at 0:50
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal:
Islam Youssef (6-2) def. Benyamin Ghahreman (3-1) by second round KO at 3:55
Lightweight Showcase Bout:
Abdelrahman Alhyasat (6-0) def. Anthony Zeidan (5-3) by second round submission (rear naked choke) at 2:50
