The Professional Fighters League will host their PFL MENA season opener in Dubai on May 24, 2026 after being forced to pull out of Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing war in Iran.
In a press release issued on Thursday, league officials revealed that the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates would play host to PFL MENA: Pride of Arabia.
Mohammad “The UAE Warrior” Yahya (12-6) faces off against Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi (6-2) in a featherweight quarterfinal bout that also serves as the card’s main event. A three-fight UFC veteran, Yahya will be making his PFL debut in the fight.
Unlike the main PFL brand, PFL MENA continues to use the tournament format this year.
Announced for the card on Thursday are the following match-ups (bouts are subject to change, and two fighters are still waiting for opponents to be confirmed):
- Mohammad Yahya vs. Mehdi Saadi — featherweight quaterfinal
- Salah Eddine Hamli vs. Ylies Djiroun — lightweight quarterfinal
- Hamza Kooheji vs. Taha Bendaoud — featherweight quarterfinal
- Zamzam Al Hammadi vs. TBD — amateur bout
- Mohammad Fahmi vs. Assem Ghanem — lightweight quarterfinal
- Ahmed El Sisy vs. Harda Karim — lightweight quarterfinal
- Georges Eid vs. Hussein Fakher — lightweight quarterfinal
- Abdullah Saleem vs. Basel Shalaan — lightweight alternate bout
- Hamad Marhoon vs. Saher Qasmieh
- Ahmed Albrahim vs. Khaled Mahmoud
- Butti Suwaid Alameri vs. TBD — amateur bout
