RIYADH: PFL MENA may still be in its inaugural season, but it has already given mixed martial arts fighters from the Middle East a platform to showcase their talents on to global audiences. 

One of the key driving forces behind the success of the Professional Fighters League’s newest international league is its Vice President of Fighter Operations Gustavo Firmino. Having previously worked with Bahrain-based BRAVE CF, Firmino knows a thing or two about putting on the best fights for Middle Eastern fans, and he is continued to do that with PFL MENA. 

On Sept. 20, PFL MENA enters its postseason, raising the stakes for 16 of the best fighters in the region, as bantamweights, featherweights, lightweights, and welterweights take to the SmartCage at Boulevard Riyadh City to fight for an opportunity to become PFL MENA champion. 

Ahead of the PFL MENA playoffs, Firmino spoke about the talent in the Middle East, what it takes to break through into the PFL’s million-dollar global tournament, and some of the must-see matches on this Friday’s card. 

“The level of skill and talent we’ve seen from fighters in the Middle East and North Africa has been nothing short of remarkable,” he said. “This only strengthens our commitment to investing in this region, helping to develop and discover more young talents with immense potential to shine on the global stage.”

While a PFL MENA championship will certainly put a fighter on the map, it does not necessarily guarantee a spot in the PFL’s million-dollar global tournament, which features the best fighters from all corners of the globe. 

“It is important to note that winning the Professional Fighters League in the Middle East and North Africa region does not automatically guarantee a spot in the global championship. The level of competition on the international stage is incredibly high, and only the fighters who consistently perform at the top level, showing excellence and determination, will be considered for the global competition.”

Still, the doors are open for Middle Eastern fighters to break through and compete on the global stage, as PFL MENA semifinalists like Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Jarrah Al-Selawe have done previously. 

“The key factors that will determine a fighter’s participation in international tournaments are high performance and consistency. It’s not just about winning titles; it's about proving yourself as a world-class athlete over time, through dedication and elite-level results,” Firmino added. 

As for the fights on this Friday’s PFL MENA 3 card, Firmino highlighted some must-see matchups including the main event and the co-main event. 

The night’s marquee matchup will feature Saudi Arabia’s own Al-Qahtani taking on Jordan’s Abdulrahman Alyhassat in a featherweight semifinal contest. 

“The upcoming fight between Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Abdulrahman Al-Hayassat is incredibly difficult to predict,” said Firmino. “Both fighters have shown exceptional abilities, and their chances are evenly matched, with a 50/50 split. Each has demonstrated dominance in their previous bouts, making this one of the most closely contested fights of the tournament.”

In the co-headlining bout, Jordan’s Al-Selawe looks to add another title to his already impressive resume as he faces Egypt’s Omar El Dafrawy. 

“The excitement surrounding the semi-final clash between Al-Selawe and El Dafrawy is enormous,” Firmino exclaimed. “El Dafrawi brings youthful energy and determination, while Al-Selawe is one of the most seasoned fighters in the region.

“This matchup is a highly anticipated bout, and all eyes will be on these two exceptional athletes,” he added. 

Firmino also talked about the other 170-pound semifinal fight featuring Mohammad Alaqraa, a protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov, and multiple-time champion Amir Fazil. 

“Mohammad is Khabib’s protege, he trains at Khabib’s gym in Dagestan, he’s undefeated at 6-0 with 5 wins by knockout, but he’s facing a multiple-time Wushu Sanda Champion and a current UAE Warriors champion in Fazil. It’s the moment of truth for him. Is he ready for the next level?”

There is much talk that the most evenly matched rivalry in international cricket has become that between Australia and India. It is true that, in recent years, the teams have dominated the rankings in Test cricket and were finalists in the last World Test Championship in 2023. Then, Australia triumphed by six wickets. Both are the frontrunners in the current WTC cycle and will face each other in a five-match Test series in Australia starting in November.

Yet, there is still no feeling of anticipation that quite compares with the near-150-year-old rivalry between England and Australia. This is true even during Australia’s tour of Scotland, England and Wales, when two forms of short-format cricket are being packed into just over four weeks, all at risk of capricious weather.

Scotland was trounced in three T20Is. This was hardly a surprise but it provided welcome exposure and experience for Scottish cricket. In England and Wales, three T20Is and five ODIs are scheduled in eight different locations, south, west and north. The program has an end-of-year party feeling, a sense of visiting friends in places almost out of a sense of social responsibility. Perhaps there is an unspoken frisson that English and Welsh cricket will never be the same again; overhanging the future, like Damocles’ sword, is the sale of The Hundred. Who knows what the outcome will mean for the sort of bilateral tournament being witnessed this September?

At least this one seems safe, given it is Australia touring. People will turn up to see the old enemy; the first T20I at Southampton was sold out. Almost inevitably, rain delayed the start to 18.45 and the temperature at the end of the match at 10.10 p.m. was displayed as 7.5C. 

Both teams are in transition. England more so, looking at the first T20I, England more so, as the team was beaten by 28 runs. After hugely disappointing defenses of both the ODI and T20I World Cups, it was time to move on and regroup. In any sport, reshaping and rebuilding successful teams is a difficult task requiring sensitivity, planning and emotional intelligence. It can be argued that England’s management displayed few of these requirements.

During the ODI World Cup in October/November 2023, the England and Wales Cricket Board appeared to panic by awarding multi-year contracts to its squad out of fear that some players were being tempted by lucrative multi-competition contracts on offer from franchises.

The move has backfired. First, the one member of the squad not offered an ECB contract promptly retired from international cricket, whilst several others have not played for England since the World Cup ended. One long-time servant, the all-rounder Moeen Ali, announced his retirement from international cricket after being omitted from the squad for the current series against Australia. These retirements and omissions open the door both for emerging and recently dormant talent.

On the evidence of the second T20I at Cardiff, England has reason to be optimistic. Set 194 to win, a combination of Liam Livingstone’s experience, with 87, and Jacob Bethell playing in his second international match, with 44, was largely instrumental in England winning by three wickets, despite a late wobble. Unfortunately, the third and deciding match fell victim to rain in Manchester.

The five ODIs will be shoehorned into 11 days, the last one scheduled for September 29, when sunset will be at 18.54. Bilateral series of this type have been described as meaningless. It is not clear if the critics mean in comparison with franchise cricket or in relation to the players being subject to too much cricket. England’s debutants and returning players may well see much meaning in the matches. They provide an opportunity for them to display their talents and temperament against the oldest foe.

In addition, there is revenue for the venues and on-ground vendors, for the ECB, and for those providing travel and accommodation in the local and regional economy. Audiences in Australia and in Asia may be less keen to tune in, given the time differences. However, the two teams have only hosted each other for three ODIs and three T20Is since 2018, hardly a case of saturation.

Australians may not welcome playing in the temperatures on offer, although this week they hit 25C in the daytime. There are places up for grabs, especially in the T20 team. David Warner has retired, so a new opener is required. The all-conquering ODI and Test captain, Pat Cummins, has been rested, along with Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell, who are now, respectively, 31, 34 and 35 years old.

One to watch for the future is 21-year-old Cooper Connolly. His Sheffield Shield debut was in the 2024 final, in which he helped Western Australia beat Tasmania by scoring 90 in the first innings. His debut for Australia came against Scotland. Jake Fraser-McGurk, at 22, is another young batting tyro. Having scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 234 in the 2024 Indian Premier League, his introduction to the Australian team in Scotland proved a tough task but he responded with a 29-ball half century in the second ODI against England.

Australia has always had a habit of producing previously unheard-of players who turn out to have long and successful careers. England has been more proactive in recent years in this respect. The number of fresh faces on both sides introduces an intriguing aspect to the current series, as players approaching the end of their international careers make way for the next generation. Who will be the successors in the next stage of cricket’s oldest rivalry remains to be seen.