The PFL MENA 2026 MMA season begins in Dubai this May with a fight card featuring a Morocco versus Algeria bout, alongside fighters from across the Middle East and North Africa.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will hold its season opener on 24 May at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. It is the first time the event has been staged outside Saudi Arabia.
The co main fight is between unbeaten Moroccan fighter Salah “Supersalah” Eddine Hamli (11-0) and Algerian veteran Ylies “Broly” Djiroun (24-9).
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Hamli enters this season as a key name in the division. In December 2025, he became PFL MENA Lightweight Champion at Dhahran Expo in Saudi Arabia, winning the title with a second-round D’Arce choke submission over Iraq’s Mohammad Fahmi.
The Oujdi fighter remains undefeated and is seen as one of MENA’s top MMA stars. Djiroun brings more experience, having fought across several countries.
Another Moroccan fighter on the card is Taha Bendaoud (5-1). He is coming off the first loss of his career, a unanimous decision defeat to Islam Reda at PFL MENA 7 last September in Riyadh. He will now face experienced Bahraini fighter Hamza Kooheji in a featherweight tournament quarter-final.
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The main event features UAE fighter Mohammad “The UAE Warrior” Yahya (12-6) against Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi (6-2) in a featherweight quarter-final. Yahya returns to compete at home after fighting internationally, including in the UFC.
Jerome Mazet, general manager of PFL MENA, said Dubai was chosen because of its role as a global hub for sport and entertainment. He said the event brings together fighters from 11 countries across the region.
The event was originally planned for 8 May in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, under the name Rise of the Gulf, but was postponed in April after organisers said plans needed to be updated.
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The move to Dubai is linked to the PFL’s partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Saudi Arabia continues to invest in MMA through SRJ Sports.
UAE fighter Zamzam Al Hammadi, 18, will also compete in an amateur bout after success in youth MMA and jiu-jitsu.
The event starts at 2:00 PM (14:00) GMT+1 and will be streamed on the Starzplay app for free.
Here are the full fights on the card for PFL MENA 9 in Dubai:
Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal Main Event: Mohammad Yahya (12-6) vs. Mehdi Saadi(6-2)
Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Co-Main Event: Salah Eddine Hamli (11-0) vs. Ylies Djiroun (24-9)
Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout: Hamza Kooheji (14-4) vs. Taha Bendaoud (5-1)
Women’s Strawweight Amateur Showcase Bout: Zamzam Al Hammadi (2-0 AM) vs. TBD
Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout: Mohammad Fahmi (6-1) vs. Assem Ghanem (7-0)
Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout: Ahmed El Sisy (7-2, 1 NC) vs. Harda Karim (5-2)
Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinal Bout: Georges Eid (11-6, 1 NC) vs. Hussein Fakher (7-4)
Lightweight Showcase Alternate Bout: Abdullah Saleem (5-1, 1 NC) vs. Basel Shalaan (6-1)
Flyweight Showcase Bout: Hamad Marhoon (1-0) vs. Saher Qasmieh (2-0)
Welterweight Showcase Bout: Ahmed Albrahim (4-1 AM) vs. Khaled Mahmoud (1-1 AM)
Featherweight Amateur Showcase Bout: Butti Suwaid Alameri (8-4 AM) vs. TBD
