Trio of Saudi fighters looking to shine at PFL MENA 1 in Jeddah

JEDDAH: PFL MENA will begin its second season at the Onyx Arena in Jeddah on May 9 with a trio of fighters from the Kingdom looking to leave their mark in front of the home crowd.

When Malik Basahel, Abdulaziz bin Moammar and Ahmed Makki make their respective entrances into the world-famous PFL SmartCage, it will symbolize a different chapter in each of their careers.

For Basahel, PFL MENA 1 in Jeddah will mark the beginning of his professional mixed martial arts career. The 23-year-old will be competing in his first pro fight when he takes on Mountasser Boutouta in a Flyweight Showcase bout.

“I’m preparing for my first professional fight after 25 amateur bouts, where I won 21 times,” said Basahel, who has put together an impressive 21-3-1 amateur slate, which includes five wins by KO/TKO and eight wins by submission. While this will not be Basahel’s first trip to the PFL SmartCage, it will be arguably his most important, as he makes the jump to the professional ranks in front of a Saudi crowd.

“This motivates me to perform at my best and make a strong entry into the professional scene,” Basahel said.

While this will be Basahel’s first pro outing, his vast amateur experience has been a huge learning experience, as he details what he needs to do to score his first career win.

“Every fighter has a different style, but the most important thing is inner focus and the ability to react instantly to the opponent’s moves,” he said.

For his training regimen, Basahel says that he sticks to a strict routine and highlights the importance of the right attitude.

“Discipline and consistency are keys to success. You need a structured training schedule — not three days on and two days off.

“Stick to a strict training program