Salah Eddine Hamli chases lifelong dream in PFL MENA Championship showdown

DUBAI: Salah Eddine Hamli will step into the SmartCage in Alkhobar on Dec. 5 carrying more than just the weight of an undefeated record.

The 27-year-old Moroccan faces Iraq’s Mohammad Fahmi in the PFL MENA Lightweight Championship final, a moment which represents something he’s been chasing since childhood.

“I feel incredible and eager to show the young Salah Eddine who dreamed of this that dreams do come true,” he said.

For athletes like Hamli, accomplishing a lifelong dream and reaching a championship final after years of grinding through smaller promotions and amateur ranks represents validation of every early morning training session, every sacrifice and every moment of doubt overcome. It brings a psychological clarity, a sense of purpose.

Accomplishing such goals can shift an athlete’s perspective on what is possible. It proves that dedication and discipline can transform dreams into reality. For Hamli, Dec. 5 represents the culmination of that journey.

His path to this title bout has shaped Hamli into one of the region’s most dangerous grapplers. Training out of Climent Club in Alicante, Spain, he works alongside featherweight star Ilia Topuria.

“Each preparation I make is better than the last; I always try to keep evolving,” he said.

His submission-heavy finishing arsenal made him a stand-out in the PFL MENA lightweight tournament. In May, he submitted Abbas Khan via rear-naked choke in the third round, and in September he used an arm-triangle choke to finish Souhil Tairi in the semifinals.

“It is a great motivation to represent all my people and also to show the whole world that Arab MMA has a lot to offer,” said Hamli. “I have very strong goals and that keeps me disciplined, no matter what.

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