The first MENA edition of the Professional Fighters League will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from May 10.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has revealed the matchups for its debut event, PFL MENA: Riyadh, showcasing some of the Middle East’s emerging talents.
Launching its inaugural season from Riyadh, the PFL MENA league is slated to premiere live on May 10, airing on MBC Action and the Arabic streaming platform Shahid.
As the fastest-growing entity in mixed martial arts (MMA), PFL MENA: Riyadh will feature fighters from the Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions, competing in the renowned PFL Playoff win-and-advance format.
Set to unfold at The Green Halls in Riyadh, this historic season opener marks the beginning of a journey for MMA enthusiasts across the region.
PFL MENA: Riyadh initiates a series of four high-energy sport-season events, showcasing the top fighters from the region, with subsequent fixtures set to unfold across the Middle East.
In a statement, Peter Murray, CEO of PFL, said: “PFL is all about creating opportunities, and we’re proud to offer fighters in the MENA region a chance to compete. With its talented athletes, MENA is a perfect fit for PFL’s season format, giving fighters a big stage to showcase their skills.
“By bringing top-tier events to the region, we’re not only serving passionate MMA fans but also pushing the sport forward. Our goal is to grow MMA and expand PFL’s reach globally, and working with SRJ Sports to build PFL MENA has been incredibly rewarding.”
Danny Townsend, CEO at SRJ Sports Investments – which owns a stake in the PFL – added: “The launch of PFL MENA is another massive moment for sport in this region and we are thrilled to have played our part in making it happen. As SRJ, we’re aiming to redefine the landscape of international sport in a way that brings more and more opportunities to Middle Eastern sport and young talent and grows our shared sporting ecosystem.”
Headlining the May 10 card is Abdullah al-Qahtani, also known as “The Reaper,” representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al-Qahtani will face off against Morocco’s Taha Bendaoud in the Featherweight main event.
