The PFL MENA is set to launch its 2026 season in Dubai on Sunday, May 24th, at the Coca-Cola Arena. The event, kicking off at 5 p.m. GST, will be streamed regionally on STARZPLAY. This marks the continuation of the promotion’s successful “win-and-advance” format, showcasing talent from across the Middle East and North Africa.
PFL MENA, established in 2024 through a partnership with SRJ Sports Investments, remains a significant regional league for the organization, with STARZPLAY serving as a key broadcast partner for audiences in the MENA region.
PFL MENA Event in Dubai
The main event will feature a highly anticipated featherweight quarterfinal bout between local star Mohammad “The UAE Warrior” Yahya and Tunisia’s Mehdi Saadi. Yahya, holding a professional record of 12-6, will be making his PFL debut on home soil, adding significant local appeal to the Dubai crowd. Saadi, with a record of 6-2, also enters the tournament aiming to advance in the 2026 featherweight bracket.
The co-main event also holds considerable tournament significance, with an undefeated lightweight quarterfinal between Morocco’s Salah “Supersalah” Eddine Hamli (11-0) and Algeria’s Ylies “Broly” Djiroun (24-9). Hamli’s perfect record positions him as a fighter to watch, while Djiroun brings extensive experience, promising a challenging test for the rising Moroccan talent.
Another prominent figure on the card is the Emirati prospect Zamzam Al Hammadi, scheduled for a women’s strawweight amateur showcase bout. Al Hammadi, who joined PFL MENA in April 2025, has built a strong reputation through her achievements in youth MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including multiple youth world titles and making history as the first Emirati woman to win an IMMAF Youth World Championship in 2023. Her participation in Dubai further highlights the promotion’s commitment to local homegrown talent.
The undercard features additional tournament bouts, including a featherweight quarterfinal between Hamza Kooheji and Taha Bendaoud. The lightweight division will see matchups such as Mohammad Fahmi vs. Assem Ghanem, Ahmed El Sisy vs. Harda Karim, and Georges Eid vs. Hussein Fakher. The event will also include lightweight amateur showcase fights with Abdullah Saleem vs. Basel Shalaan, a flyweight bout between Hamad Marhoon and Saher Qasmieh, and a welterweight amateur fight featuring Ahmed Albrahim vs. Khaled Mahmoud. Butti Suwaid Alameri will also compete in a featherweight amateur showcase, with his opponent yet to be announced.
The Coca-Cola Arena, a major indoor venue in Dubai located in City Walk, offers convenient access for attendees, being a short walk from the Dubai Mall & Burj Khalifa Metro Station. Fans are advised to anticipate potential traffic due to the arena’s 17,000-seat capacity. The venue is easily accessible via Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Road, with options for paid and public parking, taxi services, and a dedicated drop-off zone at the main entrances.
This opening event for PFL MENA serves a dual purpose: initiating a new tournament season and significantly engaging with the local market by featuring prominent fighters like Mohammad Yahya and Zamzam Al Hammadi in Dubai. With athletes representing various nations, the event aligns with the league’s regional vision while offering UAE fans a card headlined by familiar and anticipated names.
