Omar El Dafrawy, Hattan Alsaif Author Standout Performances at 2025 PFL MENA 2

Fresh off winning the 2024 Professional Fighters League MENA welterweight championship, Omar El Dafrawy shined against former PFL Europe slugger Daniele Miceli in Friday’s 2025 PFL MENA 2 card at The Green Halls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

El Dafrawy made quick work of the Italian with a first-round submission via triangle choke (1:15). Miceli (13-7, 2-2 PFL) opened the fight with an early takedown. Still, El Dafrawy threatened a Von Flue choke before transitioning to a triangle. Miceli started to panic and looked to slam the Egyptian off him, but there was no shaking his grip.

El Dafrawry (14-5, 4-0 PFL) pumped elbows off the top of Miceli’s head while securing his legs around the neck. Miceli was on the cusp of going to sleep and would try to slam Dafrawy again, but it was too little, too late. Miceli was done and forced to tap 1:15 into the first round. With the win, El Dafrawy looks ahead to making a name for himself on the PFL world stage, while his peers will compete for his old title.

Alaqraa Returns to Semis

Last year’s PFL MENA welterweight runner-up Mohammad Alaqraa advanced to the semifinal after defeating Jordan native Omar Hussein by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in the co-main event.

Alaqraa (8-1, 3-1 PFL) hails from Kuwait, but has spent much of his career at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. He showcased much of his striking ability, popping Hussein with jabs and using his quick feet to fight cautiously on the outside. Alaqraa banked the first two rounds, but struggled to keep Hussein (11-7, 0-2 PFL) off of him in the third. Despite Hussein’s strong finish, Alaqraa was awarded all three rounds on the scorecards and will face Iraq’s Mohamed Zarey in the semifinals.

Related » 2025 PFL MENA 2 Round-by-Round Scoring

Surging Alsaif Continues Momentum

Hattan Alsaif is one of the hottest rising amateur prospects in the world, and she showed out yet again in her fourth fight.

Alsaif defeated Lebanon kickboxer Nour Al Fliti by second-round TKO after Al Fliti injured knee early in the round (2:24). Despite the injury, Alsaif proved throughout the amateur atomweight clash that she was the superior fighter by mixing in her wrestling with fast combinations and aggressive footwork. As the first Saudi Arabian woman to fight in the PFL, Alsaif’s following grows with every win and the fans were ecstatic to see the hometown hero notch another victory.

Zarey Outpoints Galal

Zarey struggled to track down the tricky Egyptian welterweight Ayman Galal for a single round before making life hard for him throughout the rest of their welterweight quarterfinal clash.

Zarey’s ground game made the fight a rugged and torrid affair, but his work rate on the ground edged out Galal’s boxing. Heading into the final round with the fight tied, Zarey (10-1, 1-0 PFL) saved his best work and dominated Galal (4-2, 0-1 PFL) on the ground en route to a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Alaoui Rebounds in 2025 Tourney

Xavier Alaoui was a favorite to win the PFL MENA bantamweight tournament last season, but was stunned in the quarterfinals. “The Breadman” redeemed himself with a dominant performance over Egypt’s Ziad Ayman (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Alaoui (16-6, 1-1 PFL) frustrated Ayman (6-2, 1-1 PFL) with body locks along the cage and consistent pressure on the ground.

Ayman found some success when he could use his reach, but Alaoui would quickly smother his offense and take him back down to the canvas. With the win, Alaoui locked down the final spot in the bantamweight semifinals.

Benkaci Blitzes Adur

In a showdown between two experienced bantamweights, it only took Algeria’s Moktar Benkaci 57 seconds to put away Marcel Adur.

Benkaci (25-9 (1-2 PFL) picked up his first win in the PFL Smartcage after beating Adur into literal submission. After a short feeling-out period, Benkaci commenced the beatdown with a lightning-fast left hook that dropped the Lebanon native. Benkaci walked down and tortured Adur (19-8-1, 0-1 PFL) with a handful of heavy body shots until Adur was forced to wave him off.

Diani Decisions Darwish

Badreddine Diani versus Ahmad Abdelbast Darwish was the first fight of the card to go the distance, but nobody was bored during this welterweight feud.

Diani outslugged Darwish over three rounds to pick up a slim but clear unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Diani (9-3, 2-0 PFL) used his experience to contain the explosive Egyptian (4-1, 0-1 PFL) in the clinch and catch him with crisp potshots. Darwish pressed and ate leather but always looked to respond. After 15 blistering minutes, both fighters raised their stock in the division, but Diani got the nod to move to the welterweight semis.

Fazli One Shots Akman

Amir Fazli was the fourth-straight fighter to close the show in the second round, but the Iranian’s brutal one-shot knockout of welterweight prospect Rostem Akman may have been the most shocking.

Fazli (7-3, 1-1) spent most of the first round floating laterally and picking through Akman’s guard with jabs. Akman walked forward and threw dangerous punches. It was a matter of time before Akman walked Fazli down, but it was Fazli who put Akman (7-5, 0-1 PFL) on the seat of his pants with an overhand right from the underworld. The punch crashed into the Turk’s chin and put him out cold at 1:34 into the second round.

Abzakh Clobbers Yazbeck

Jordan’s Nawras Abzakh continued the trend of violence with a second-round finish of his own.

Abzakh ended the bantamweight quarterfinal clash with Ali Yazbeck of Lebanon with a wild combination of punches and knees that left Yazbeck motionless on the canvas. Abzakh (6-0-1, 1-0 PFL) caught his man in the opening minute of the second round (0:50) after cracking Yazbeck with a right hook. Yazbeck fell to the mat before eating a knee and another hook. Abzakh only needed a few more finishing punches before he was pulled off.

Youssef Notches Incredible KO

Islam Youssef missed weight, but didn’t miss the opportunity to showcase his skills on a big stage.

Youssef (6-2, 1-0 PFL) shined in his PFL debut with a second-round knockout win over formerly undefeated bantamweight Benyamin Ghahraman (5-1, 0-1 PFL). Youssef crumbled Ghahrman late into the second round (3:55) after setting him up with a single-leg takedown attempt. Gharaman tried to scramble away but left himself open to a devastating flying head kick from the Egyptian. With the win, Youssef advances to the PFL bantamweight semifinals.

Alhyasat Wins Curtain Jerker

Undefeated prospect Abdelrahman Alhyasat opened the card with an impressive second-round submission of Lebanon’s Anthony Zeidan (5-3, 0-2 PFL).

Alhyasat improved to 6-0, (3-0 PFL) despite spending much of the first round on the defensive. Alhyasat showed poise by striking on the backfoot and countering Zeidan with wrestling. Alhyasat secured three takedowns before breaking Zeidan in the second round. Alhysat rained down punches before putting Zeidan out with a face crank.