RIYADH: The highly anticipated PFL MENA 3 fight night took place in Riyadh’s Boulevard City on Sept. 20, showcasing the best of MMA talent across the Middle East and North Africa.

Fighters in bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions competed, looking to secure a place in the PFL MENA finals, with an eye on the inaugural championship titles.

In the night’s headliner, the main card saw Abdelrahman Alhyasat from Jordan squared off against Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani in a high-stakes bantamweight contest. Alhyasat emerged victorious in a closely contested bout, using superior technique and strategy to outpoint the Saudi fighter. This victory moves Alhyasat one step closer to fighting for the bantamweight title in the finals, solidifying his reputation as one of the division’s top contenders.

In a major upset, Egypt’s Omar El-Dafrawy defeated Jordan’s experienced Jarrah Al-Selawe in the night’s only TKOUT (technical knockout). El-Dafrawy’s aggressive and well-timed striking outclassed Al-Selawe, who struggled to establish his rhythm. With this victory, El-Dafrawy advances to the next stage of the welterweight division, positioning himself as a potential title contender.

Other key fights featured Mohammad Alaqraa of Kuwait, who remained undefeated after besting Iraq’s Amir Fazli in a lightweight matchup. Alaqraa’s grappling and control throughout the fight helped him to maintain his winning streak and move closer to the PFL MENA finals.

In a featherweight clash, Mohsen Mohammadseifi of Iraq triumphed over Algeria’s Souhil Tairi. Mohammadseifi showcased his wrestling skills and ground control to neutralize Tairi’s striking, securing a crucial win as he eyes the finals. Iran’s Ali Taleb delivered a dominant performance against Jalal Al-Daaja from Jordan, further establishing his place in the featherweight division. His tactical striking and control throughout the fight ensured a comfortable victory.

In the lightweight division, Egypt’s Islam Reda outlasted Morocco’s Marouane Bellagquit in a well-fought contest, securing a key win and advancing toward the finals.

Rachid El-Hazoume of Morocco put in a powerful performance against Algeria’s Elias Boudegzdame, while Georges Eid of Lebanon edged out Tunisia’s Omar Reguigui in a tightly contested bout.

The opening bout saw Adam Meskini of Morocco take on Jordan’s Yazeed Hasanain in another bantamweight clash. Meskini’s quick reflexes and precise striking carried him to victory, adding another name to the list of fighters making significant strides toward the finals.
Home-crowd victory: Malik Basahel vs. Saher Qasmieh

One of the evening’s most celebrated wins came from Saudi Arabia’s Malik Basahel, who earned a hard-fought victory over Jordan’s Saher Qasmieh in the bantamweight division. Basahel’s win in front of the Riyadh crowd was a highlight of the night, boosting his standing and momentum as he advances in his journey with the PFL MENA.

With the PFL MENA 3 event concluded, the fighters now shift their focus to the PFL MENA finals, where they will compete for the inaugural championship belts. The night delivered top-level MMA action, with fighters demonstrating high skill levels and fierce competitiveness. Fans in the region are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this debut season, as the competition heats up and the road to the finals becomes clearer.

LONDON: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged players to lead the fight for change in the heated debate over the dangers posed by an increased fixture schedule.
City midfielder Rodri recently suggested players would consider going on strike in a bid to halt the dramatic rise in matches crammed into an already hectic calendar.
With the Champions League first stage now featuring an additional two matches and the expanded Club World Cup at the end of the season, Guardiola’s Premier League champions could play a maximum of 76 matches during the 2024/25 campaign.
Top players also have international fixtures to factor into the gruelling schedule.
Global players’ union FIFPro has said footballers should play a maximum of 50 to 60 games per season, depending on their age.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker joined the row when he said players were not given a voice by the sport’s authorities to express their concerns.
Many leading managers have expressed support for the players’ concerns, with Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany calling for a cap on the number of games a player is allowed to feature in each year.
As the debate intensifies, Guardiola says players have the power to spark change because the sport cannot go on without them.
“I’m pretty sure that if something is going to change, it must come from the players,” he said.
“They are the only ones who can change something about the organization, to take a voice.
“The business can be without managers, sporting directors, media, owners but without players you cannot play. The only ones with the power to do it are them.”
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea will, like City, take part in the Club World Cup in the United States at a time when the players would otherwise be resting.
The Italian hinted a strike could be a course of action to tackle the problem.
Asked whether there are too many games in the current calendar, Maresca said: “Yes, no doubt. In terms of games, it’s too much.
“I don’t think we protect players. We can say what we think and for me it’s completely wrong the amount of games that we have.
“The only ones that can do something are the players and we can help them. In the last two weeks some of the players have tried to explain what they think. I think it’s a good starting point.
“Some of them have said (they could strike). I think it could be an idea for them.”