Adam Guillen has been writing (and translating) for MMAmania.com since 2011, covering the latest UFC, Bellator, PFL and other mixed martial arts (MMA) news and latest happenings throughout the combat sports world.

Professional Fighters League (PFL) is gearing up to crown six new champions while dishing out as many $1 million checks to the winners later TODAY (Fri., Nov. 29, 2024) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at its 2024 World Championship event.

Before then, however, the first-ever PFL MENA tournament wrapped up, which crowned four champions in the Bantamweight, Lightweight, Welterweight and Featherweight divisions. PFL MENA is the promotion’s second international league, which was established earlier this year.

“The inaugural PFL MENA season will feature 32 fighters competing across 4 weight classes in a sports-season format, with a regular season, playoffs, and championship. The league will also host showcase fights to develop local and regional talents, such as Hattan Alsaif, the first female fighter from Saudi Arabia to sign a contract with a major global MMA promotion. She will be making her amateur PFL debut in showcase bouts on the PFL MENA cards.”

In the Featherweight main event of the evening, Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-2) squared off against Marouane Bellagouit (6-1). Halfway through round one, Al-Qahtani tagged his foe with a laser-like precise right hand straight down the pipe which sent him crashing to the canvas. He managed to get up right away only to eat two more big blows than send him down again. From there, Al-Qahtani pounced and delivered one vicious hammer strike after another to force the stoppage and secure his $100,000 check and title.

Check it out:

The action got started much earlier with several “showcase fights” on the undecard, which was sparked by Costello Van Steenis starching Joao Dantas in under a minute with a devastating head-kick (see it again here).

Also, Mansour Barnaoui secured his fifteenth career submission win by strangling Alfie Davis with a suffocating rear-naked choke in the third round of their 155-pound bout.

Hattan Alsaif, who was PFL’s first-ever Saudi born female fighter inked to a contract, won her third straight fight by defeating Lilia Osmani via second round knockout thanks to a pair of devastating knees.

The first of four title fights saw Mohsen Mohammadseifi defeat Georges Eid via unanimous decision to win the 155-pound strap and a cool $100,000, all while securing his sixth straight win after starting off his MMA career with three straight defeats.

In the Bantamweight title fight, Ali Taleb dazzled the crowd after he obliterated Rachid El Hazoume with a nasty right hand in the very first round, which was set up nicely after he caught his foe’s leg kick attempt before sizing him up for the kill shot.

Moving on to the Welterweight title fight, Omar El Dafrawy stopped Mohammad Alagraa via second-round technical knockout (TKO) after landing six consecutive hammer fists to the side of his head. After the referee stepped in to put an end to the punishment, Alagraa — who was visibly out when absorbing the blows — came to and protested the stoppage.

That’s a wrap for the first-ever PFL MENA season, and to get full, live results and highlights of the 2024 PFL World Championships, click here to follow along with all of the action!

PFL MENA CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK RESULTS:

145 lbs.: Marouane Bellagouit vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani - Al-Qahtani via first-round knockout
170 lbs.: Mohammad Alaqraa vs. Omar El Dafrawy - Dafraway via second round TKO
135 lbs.: Ali Taleb vs. Rachid El Hazoume - Taleb via first-round knockout
155 lbs.: Mohsen Mohammadseifi vs. Georges Eid - Mohammadseifi - unanimous decision
109 lbs.: Hattan Alsaif vs. Lilia Osmani - Alsaif via second-round knockout
155 lbs.: Mansour Barnaoui vs. Alfie Davis - Barnaoui via third-round submission
265 lbs.: Slim Trabelsi vs. Abraham Bably - Trabelsi via split decision
145 lbs.: Jesus Pinedo vs. Jeremy Kennedy - Braga via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Asael Adjoudj vs. Jose Perez - Adjoudj via unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Costello Van Steenis vs. Joao Dantas - Van Steenis via first-round knockout (HIGHLIGHTS!)

That’s a wrap for the first-ever PFL MENA season, and to get full, live results and highlights of the 2024 PFL World Championships click here to follow along with all of the action!

For more 2024 PFL World Championship results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.