Saudi’s Hattan Alsaif thrills home crowd with professional debut win at PFL MENA: Riyadh

RIYADH: The Professional Fighters League returned to Boulevard Studios for PFL MENA: Riyadh, where the region’s top athletes delivered a night of tournament-defining performances, highlight-reel finishes and standout showcase bouts.

In the catchweight showcase Main Event, Saudi star Hattan Alsaif (1-0) made her professional debut against Algeria’s Dania Ouhachi (1-2). Hometown heroine Alsaif thrilled the audience with an early takedown as the Algerian fighter threatened with an armbar. In the second round, Alsaif scored with a thunderous overhand right to send her opponent down.

In the co-main event, Lebanon’s Hassan Shaaban (7-2) met Jordan’s Hazem Kayyali (3-0-2) in a pivotal welterweight matchup. Kayyali countered with a barrage of kicks to the legs and head of his opponent to control the opening round, followed by the two men battling for control of the final two rounds.

Also on the main card, Jeddah’s own Malik Basahel (4-0) showed a frenetically superior display of grappling as he had his hand raised in a unanimous decision victory over Morocco’s Imad El-Azami (1-1). The crowd celebrated as their hometown fighter kept his undefeated record intact in the flyweight division, scoring 30-27 across two judges’ scorecards, the third scoring 29-28.

In the PFL MENA welterweight tournament, Abdelkrim Zouad (8-2) and Omar Hussein (12-7) secured their places in the semifinals with victories over Wissame Akhmouch and Ahmed Darwish, respectively. Morocco’s fan favorite, Badreddine Diani also advanced to the semifinals after defeating Egypt’s Yousef Adel, while Kayyali defeated Shaaban in the co-main event, cementing his next fight on Oct. 2 in Riyadh.

Algeria’s Elias Boudegzdame (21-9) defeated Hussein Salem (12-7) to