In the main event, Saudi Arabia’s own Abdullah Al-Qahtani took on the undefeated Abdelrahman Alhyasat with a spot in the featherweight finals on the line. The other side of the bracket arrived earlier in the night, when Islam Reda and Marouaune Bellagouit faced off. But it was Al-Qahtani, a.k.a. “The Reaper,” on the verge of stardom in the PFL, with four straight wins and looking for a spot in the PFL Global season moving forward.

Where to Watch PFL MENA 3

Friday, September 20, 2024 sees the PFL live in Saudi Arabia at the PFL MENA Studios at Boulevard City in Riyadh. Where available, the card can be streamed live on DAZN. Full results can be found below. The action gets underway at 11:30AM ET, 8:30AM PT.

PFL MENA 3 Results

Featherweight Semifinal bout: Abdelrahman Alhyasat def. Abdullah Al-Qahtani by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight Semifinal bout: Omar El Dafrawy def. Jarrah Al-Selawe by TKO, Round 1, 3:09
Welterweight Semifinal bout: Mohammad Alaqraa def. Amir Fazli by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Lightweight Semifinal bout: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Souhil Taïri by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Bantamweight Semifinal bout: Ali Taleb def. Jalal Al Daaja by KO, Round 1, 2:18
Featherweight Semifinal bout: Islam Reda def. Marouaune Bellagouit by unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-27)
Bantamweight Semifinal bout: Rachid El Hazoume def. Elias Boudegzdame by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight Semifinal bout: Georges Eid def. Omar Reguigui by TKO, Round 1, 1:37
Amateur Flyweight Showcase bout: Malik Basahel def. Saher Qasmieh by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
Alternate Featherweight Showcase bout: Adam Meskini def. Yazeed Hasanain by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

The post PFL MENA 3 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

The show is headlined by featherweight action, as Abdullah Al-Qahtani, a Brave CF vet, looks to extend his current win streak to five when he takes on Abdelrahman Alhyasat. Elsewhere on the card, UAE Warriors alum Ali Taleb finds himself in a bantamweight final against Jalal Al Daaja.

Weigh-ins for PFL MENA 3 took place on Thursday, with the key players all making weight. Full results from the weigh-in can be found below.

PFL MENA 3 Weigh-In Results

Featherweight Semifinal bout: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (145.4 lbs.) vs. Abdelrahman Alhyasat (145.9 lbs.)
Welterweight Semifinal bout: Jarrah Al-Selawe (170.6 lbs.) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170.8 lbs.)
Welterweight Semifinal bout: Mohammad Alaqraa (170.1 lbs.) vs. Amir Fazli (170.8 lbs.)
Lightweight Semifinal bout: Souhil Taïri (155.8 lbs.) vs. Mohsen Mohammadseifi (155.9 lbs.)
Bantamweight Semifinal bout: Ali Taleb (132.7 lbs.) vs. Jalal Al Daaja (135.9 lbs.)
Featherweight Semifinal bout: Islam Reda (145.8 lbs.) vs. Marouaune Bellagouit (145.6 lbs.)
Bantamweight Semifinal bout: Elias Boudegzdame (135.9 lbs.) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (135.4 lbs.)
Lightweight Semifinal bout: Georges Eid (155.9 lbs.) vs. Omar Reguigui (155.8 lbs.)
Amateur Flyweight Showcase bout: Malik Basahel (124.4 lbs.) vs. Saher Qasmieh (125.1 lbs.)
Alternate Featherweight Showcase bout: Adam Meskini (145.5 lbs.) vs. Yazeed Hasanain (145.2 lbs.)

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The short-notice switch in main event foes came after original opponent Taha Bendaoud struggled to make the contracted weight for the bout; earlier in the week, it appeared something was awry with at least some of Bendaoud’s media obligations cancelled.

The show must go on, however, and “The Reaper” Al-Qahtani, fresh off a win on the PFL vs. Bellator Champions card in February, was ready to fight regardless. In the co-main event, meanwhile, Ali Taleb, a UAE Warriors standout with a 2-1 record under the PFL banner, was set to take on Nawras Abzakh at bantamweight.

Where to Watch PFL MENA 1

PFL MENA 1 takes place on Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Green Halls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the event airing on DAZN in North America. Full results can be found below. The event gets underway at 11:30AM ET, 8:30AM PT.

PFL MENA 1: Al-Qahtani vs. Hasanain Results

Featherweight: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Yazeed Hasanain by TKO (punches), Round 2
Bantamweight: Ali Taleb def. Nawras Abzakh by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Rachid El Hazoume def. Xavier Alaoui by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2
Featherweight: Islam Reda  def. Adam Meskini by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Tariq Ismail vs. Jalal Al Daaja ends in a majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Bantamweight: Elias Boudegzdame def. Hassan Mandour by submission (guillotine choke), Round 2
Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif def. Nada Faheem by KO (head kick), Round 2,  – Amateur
Featherweight: Maraoune Bellagouit def. Mido Mohamed by TKO, Round 3, 4:12
Featherweight: Abdelrahman Alhyasat def. Ahmed Tarek by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-27)
Flyweight: Malik Basahel def. Harsh Pandya by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) – Amateur

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When Cageside Press spoke with featherweight Al-Qahtani last week, he was preparing for a fight with Taha Bendaoud. That changed Thursday, with a main event shuffle that sees Yazeed Hasanain step in to replace Bendaoud, who reportedly had weight struggles. Either way, what is clear is that regardless of opponent, Al-Qahtani is elated to headline the first event for PFL MENA.

“This is PFL MENA now in Riyadh, in my hometown. I’m ready for it, I’m so excited to represent my country, to represent all my team,” Al-Qahtani (8-1) told us.  “You know, it’s something big and also it’s the main event. I’m going to do something great in this fight. I’m going to win, Inshallah. Yeah. I’m ready for that.”

What can fight fans expect from the featherweight known as “The Reaper?”

“I’m going to be the showman, you know? Every fight I do a crazy fight,” said Al-Qahtani, who added that when he fights, “the crowd is focused on me. The fight is very good, a lot of blood, a lot of damage, a lot of things they like. I was thinking I was going to be the main event.”

“I’m going to do something in this fight, I’m going to let all the people know who I am, and want to watch me again and again.”

Asked if there were any extra nerves from headlining a card at home in Saudi Arabia (Al-Qahtani was born in Morocco but has been in the Kingdom consistently now since his teens), Al-Qahtani explained that “it’s okay. Before I was fighting- every fight I’m going to be nervous.  I’m going to be a little bit not comfortable. But every fight, when I go inside the cage, I feel this is my place, this is my cage. It’s my home. I want to be there. This is why I’m ready for it. This is what I want, I’m ready for it.”

Al-Qahtani added that yes, he’s “a little nervous,” but reiterated that every fight is like that.

Watch our full interview with PFL MENA 1’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani above.

The post Abdullah Al-Qahtani Looking to Be a Showman at PFL MENA 1 appeared first on Cageside Press.

While Abdullah Al-Qahtani was originally booked opposite Taha Bendaoud, the latter failed to make the contracted weight, and instead Jordan’s Yazeed Hasanain has stepped up, coming in at 146.6 pounds for what is now a catchweight affair.

Al-Qahtani, entering the night off a key win at the PFL vs. Bellator Champions card in February, clocked in at 145.6lbs on Thursday.

Iraq’s Ali Taleb meets Jordan’s Nawras Abzakh in the night’s bantamweight co-main event, with both fighters making weight and Taleb in particular well under the limit.

Full results from the PFL MENA 1 weigh-in can be found below. The event takes place on Friday, May 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabaia.

PFL MENA 1 Weigh-In Results

Featherweight: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (145.6 lbs) vs. Yazeed Hasanain (146.6 lbs)
Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (133.4 lbs) vs. Nawras Abzakh (135.4 lbs)
Bantamweight: Xavier Alaoui (135.6 lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8 lbs)
Featherweight: Islam Reda (145.6 lbs) vs. Adam Meskini (145.8 lbs)
Bantamweight: Tariq Ismail (136.4 lbs) vs. Jalal Al Daaja (135.6 lbs)
Bantamweight: Elias Boudegzdame (135.8 lbs) vs. Hassan Mandour (135.8 lbs)
Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (104.0 lbs) vs. Nada Faheem (105.8 lbs) – Amateur
Featherweight: Maraoune Bellagouit (145.8 lbs) vs. Mido Mohamed (145.2 lbs)
Featherweight: Ahmed Tarek (145.4 lbs) vs. Abdelrahman Alhyasat (146.0 lbs)
Flyweight: Malik Basahel (125.4 lbs) vs. Harsh Pandya (125.0 lbs) – Amateur

The post PFL MENA 1 Weigh-In Results: New Look Main Event Official appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Thursday, league officials announced via press release that the first PFL MENA event would take place on May 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Along with that announcement, a full slate of fights was unveiled for the card, which will be headlined by featherweights Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Taha Bendaoud.

Al-Qahtani (8-1), a Saudi national, is not new to the PFL, and holds three wins under the promotional banner. He’s coming into the bout off a win over Edukondala Rao; Bendaoud (3-0) most recently competed for UAE Warriors.

Also of note on the PFL MENA 1 card, Ali Taleb (9-1) returns. 2-1 under the PFL banner, Taleb will look to bounce back from a loss to Khurshed Kakhorov last time out. He faces Nawras Abzakh (12-5).

PFL MENA will air on MBC ACTION and on SHAHID in the Middle East-North Africa region; international broadcast plans have not been announced. The full card at The Green Halls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 10 breaks down as follows:

• Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Taha Bendaoud
• Ali Taleb vs. Nawras Abzakh
• Xavier Alaoui vs. Rachid El Hazoume
• Islam Reda vs. Adam Meskini
• Tariq Ismail vs. Jalal Al Daaja
• Elias Boudegzdame vs. Hassan Mandour
• Hattan Alsaif vs. Nada Faheem
• Maraoune Bellagouit vs. Motaz Askar
• Ahmed Tarek vs. Abdelrahman Alhyasat
• Mido Mohamed vs. Yazeed Hasanain
• Malik Basahel vs. Harsh Pandya

The post PFL MENA Launches on May 10 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia appeared first on Cageside Press.

Al Qahtani, known as “The Reaper,” boasts a 7-1 record so far in his career and has won both of his fights under the PFL banner. This fight, against Edukondala Rao on Feb. 24, is a little different.

“PFL is a big platform for all fighters, it’s a big event also,” Al Qahtani told Cageside Press this week. “All the PFL events, it’s big. It’s an honor for me to be in the PFL. Also now, PFL is going to come to Saudi Arabia, in my home. With my people and with my team, I will fight with my team. It’s a big deal.”

While Al Qahtani is not the only fighter to sport the nickname “The Reaper,” it’s well-earned in his case. The label was first affixed by his teammates, who were impressed by his aggression in competition.

“Because they see my fights and also, we are going to do a jiu-jitsu tournament, and they see me, how I win the fight. It’s with an aggressive way,” Al Qahtani explained. “Also in jiu-jitsu, I do it with an aggressive way. And also in MMA when you see all my fights, it’s a bloody fight. I want to make good damage, more blood, more— it’s something crazy. It’s not just a regular win. I want to make damage, I want to kill something. This is why I make this nickname.”

Asked where that aggression comes from, Abdullah Al Qahtani added that “I feel it’s something inside me. When I go in the fight I feel free, a free man. I want to do something, I want to do everything. I don’t know, it’s something inside me.”

The PFL has made big moves in the past year and a half, with signings like Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul, and the purchase of Bellator MMA. Al Qahtani is excited to be a part of it all.

“Now PFL, they do something crazy, something big. I’m very happy I’m with the PFL now because PFL now is just bigger than bigger than bigger than before. And also, all PFL fighters, it’s a big name. It’s not just anyone can be in PFL. It’s not a small thing, it’s a big [thing], and also they get bigger and bigger.”

Watch our full interview with PFL featherweight Abdullah Al Qahtani above.

The post Abdullah Al Qahtani, Set for PFL vs. Bellator, Says Aggression Behind “Reaper” Nickname appeared first on Cageside Press.