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

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Originally set for Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia on Friday, May 8, 2026, the promotion announced on Thursday that the event had been postponed. No reason for the move was given, though in reality it’s self-evident, with America’s Trump administration sparking a war with Iran, and Iran retaliating by striking U.S. allies in the region.

“PFL MENA 9 in Khobar has been postponed,” league officials wrote in Thursday’s announcement. “All announced bouts will move forward as part of the 2026 PFL MENA season opener with new event details to be announced soon.”

“All ticket holders will receive a full refund. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you soon.”

Al Khobar came under attack last month when a bridge connecting the city to the Kingdom of Bahrain was hit by Iranian drone strikes. Nearby Bahrain also hosts the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, or it did; the facility was reportedly destroyed in March.

The U.S. State Department has advised Americans in the area to return home.

The PFL MENA branch of the Professional Fighters League remains one of the last featuring a tournament format. The now-scrapped May 8 date was the feature the featherweight and lightweight quarterfinals. The good news is, the fights will still take place, just at a date and location to be determined.

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