SME-Coverage/Samir Boussad
Resonant Saudi victories and the semi-finals bring together champions from six countries
With the knockout, “Hatan Al-Saif” takes its first steps in world championships
Moran announces the establishment of the “International Professional Fighters League”
Riyadh, May 11, 2024
Amidst a large audience of martial arts fans, the PFL Championship, Professional Fighters League (MENA), concluded in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where it was held for the first time in an Arab country and in the Middle East.
The next qualifying matches will be held in Jeddah next July, while Riyadh will host the final matches next November.
Eight players representing 6 countries qualified for the semi-finals. In the featherweight division, the Saudi Abdullah Al-Qahtani and the Jordanian Abdul Rahman Hiasat qualified, and the Egyptian Islam Reda and the Moroccan Marwan Balaguette qualified. Al-Qahtani and Hiasat will meet, and in the second confrontation, Reda and Balaguette will face off, and in the bantamweight, the Jordanian Jalal Al-Daja and the Moroccan qualified. Rachid Hazoumi, the Algerian Elias Boudjazoumi, and the Iraqi Ali Talib. Al-Daja meets Hazoumi, while Ali Talib faces Elias.
The Green Hall witnessed strong confrontations, the most notable of which was the main event in each weight. In the featherweight category, the Saudi Al-Qahtani defeated the Jordanian Yazid Hussein by submission, the Egyptian Islam Reda also defeated the Moroccan Adam Maskani, the Jordanian Abdel Rahman Hayasat achieved a victory over the Egyptian Ahmed Tariq, while the Moroccan Marwan Blaguit defeated Egyptian Mido Mahmoud.
In the bantamweight division, the Iraqi Ali Talib defeated the Jordanian Nawras Bazzakh in the main weight bout, Jalal Al-Daja also defeated the Sudanese Tariq Ismail, the Moroccan Rachid Hazoumi defeated his compatriot Xfeir El-Wahi, while the Algerian Elias Boudjazoum defeated the Egyptian Hassan Mandour.
In the women’s match, the Saudi Hattan Al-Saif defeated the Egyptian Nada Fahmy, and in a match held at flyweight as part of the exhibition matches, the Saudi Malek Basahal defeated the Indian Harsh Pandya.
Al-Qahtani imposes his prestige
In the main featherweight match, and amid great and continuous encouragement from the audience, the Saudi Abdullah Al-Qahtani dominated his meeting with the Jordanian Yazid Hassanein, and imposed himself strongly in the match. Hassanein announced his surrender in the second half after a tight series of punches directed by Al-Qahtani made Hassanein lose control, and Yazid had He made strenuous efforts to avoid Al-Qahtani’s concentrated attack in the first round, and Hassanein focused on playing defensively to escape the Saudi’s fierce attack, but he did not succeed in avoiding the punches in the second round.
Al-Qahtani commented, saying: I finished the fight with successive knockouts, and I do not care who I will face in the next fight, as I am ready for any fighter.
Al-Hiyasat entered dancing and left prostrating
Jordanian Abdul Rahman Al-Hiyasat, 28 years old, entered the ring dancing and left prostrating after his victory over the former Egyptian featherweight champion, Ahmed Tariq, 22 years old, unanimously by the judges. Al-Hiyasat presented a distinguished level in the match thanks to his study of his opponent’s playing style, which relies heavily on ground movements and thus He won his previous four matches by submission, but Hiasat prevented him from playing on the ground as he wanted and forced him to play on the top, so Hiasat focused on attacking with the hands and feet, to control his opponent in the three rounds, presenting himself as a real contender for the featherweight division.
Reda satisfies the Egyptian fans
By unanimous vote of the judges, the Egyptian Ismail Reda defeated the Moroccan Adam Maskani after three strong rounds between them, and neither fighter was able to impose his control over the other due to the equal power in ground play or attacks with the hands and feet, and the advantage was transferred between them, but the Egyptian Reda was the most prominent and dangerous, especially in the first round, which The difference was clear, and the Moroccan came back from afar, but Reda was able to play intelligently until he achieved what he wanted and the precious victory to satisfy the Egyptian fans who supported the player until the end.
Blaguit replaces the judge with the ruling
Moroccan kickboxing champion Marouane Blaguette continued to win, but he replaced the victory with a knockout by the referee’s decision, when he defeated the Egyptian champion Mido Mohamed in the third round, which was the longest match Blaguette had fought in tournaments, as he was finishing it in the first round, and the two players focused on attacking with their hands and feet, to appear. Blaguette has opportunities and clings to them with a strong attack on Mido, who was unable to escape Blaguette’s trap. The referee stops the match, declaring Blaguette’s victory.
Talib outperforms Bazzakh
The Iraqi Ali Talib achieved a difficult victory in the main bantamweight match over the Jordanian Nawras Bazakh, and the victory came by decision of the three judges, “30-27, 30-27, and 29-28”. Boxing dominated the match, as Ali Talib insisted on playing standing up, while Bazakh tried to lure The player was able to play on the ground, but he did not succeed in doing so, especially since Talib prepared for the tournament in Sweden and studied his opponent perfectly. In the third round, the two fighters exchanged blows until blood flowed in a match that was considered the toughest in the tournament, and the referees needed a longer period than others to announce the identity of the winner because the conflict was Fierce.
Elias beats Mandour
The Algerian Elias Boudjazem ended his match with the Egyptian Hassan Mandour in the second round by the referee’s decision, and it appeared that the Algerian was looking for a ground movement through which he could subdue his opponent, especially since the players focused on using the hands and feet, so the first round was dull, and in the second round Elias’ determination to force Mandour appeared. On the ground, which was achieved through the speed of Elias’ reaction and his ability to control his opponent, so the referee ended the match.
After the match, Elias stated that he prepared for the tournament and was looking to compete for its title, especially since it is a dream for every fighter.
“Tornado” Al-Daja wins by weight difference
By weight difference, Jordanian Jalal Al-Daja won over Sudanese Tariq Ismail, who came from Canada, after they tied the match thanks to the referees’ decisions that were “29-27 and 28-29 29-29.” The two fighters fought a match full of struggle and strength with diversity.
