The semi-finals of the PFL MENA tournament are set to take place on September 27, with some impressive fighters you need to look out for.
PFL MENA 3 will host the semi-finals of the Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight, and Bantamweight tournaments, as the promotion looks to find the top fighters in Africa and the Middle East.
With a large cash prize on offer for the winner, we look at the top prospects you should be looking out for at PFL MENA 3.
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Mohammad Alaqraa is looking to bounce back from losing in last year’s PFL MENA tournament final
One of the most interesting stories in this year’s competition is Mohammad Alaqraa, who surged into the semi-finals with a decision victory over Omar Hussein back in July.
The 25-year-old Kuwaiti prospect is 8-1 in his career and looks to have a huge future in the Welterweight division.
However, that “1” in his record came in the biggest fight of his career, in the final of last year’s PFL MENA tournament.
Alaqraa was knocked out with a huge left hook and an assortment of hammerfists in the 2024 final, taking a massive loss to Omar El Dafrawy at PFL 10.
2025 could mark his redemption, coming back from defeat to win the entire tournament, although he’ll have to get past Ayman Galal before he gets that chance.
Mokhtar Benkaci can use his experience to go all the way
The most experienced fighter left in the PFL MENA tournament is Mokhtar Benkaci, who will have his 35th professional fight when he steps into the octagon for his semi-final.
The Frenchman may be 33, but he still has a huge future in MMA. Benkaci is the #5-ranked Bantamweight in Europe, and is the #11 Pound-for-Pound ranked fighter in all of France.
His 25-9-0 record does have some heavy defeats, but “Le Kablye” has a five-fight winning streak – all finishes – as he attempts to become the best fighter in the PFL in the entire MENA region.
His opponent, Nawras Abzakh, will be a tough one, but his mixed record in recent years, which included a loss in the first round of last year’s Bantamweight tournament, should make him an easy win for Benkaci.
Submission specialist Mohammad Fahmi has impressed despite being early in his career
While with only 3 fights to his name (and two wins that are “ineligible”, according to Sherdog), Mohammad Fahmi could be a sleeper hit in the co-main event at PFL MENA 3.
“The Soulkeeper” started his career late, but the 30-year-old has already won the majority of his fights by submission, and will be hoping to do the same on September 27.
Fahmi could advance to the Lightweight final with just his fourth career win, which would be huge for his reputation in the MENA region and around the world.
PFL MENA 3 Full Card
Main card
Welterweight: Mohammad Alaqraa vs. Ayman Galal
Lightweight: Mohsen Mohammadseifi vs. Mohammad Fahmi
Flyweight: Malik Basahel vs. Ahmed Mostafa
Featherweight: Islam Reda vs. Taha Bendaoud
Lightweight: Salah Eddine Hamli vs. Souhil Taïri
Bantamweight: Moktar Benkaci vs. Nawras Abzakh
Prelims
Catchweight (160 lb): Abdulaziz bin Moammar vs. Hassan Ahmed Moustafa
Welterweight: Badreddine Diani vs. Amir Fazli
Featherweight: Yanis Ghemmouri vs. Assem Ghanem
Bantamweight: Xavier Alaoui vs. Islam Youssef
Featherweight: Hussein Salem vs. Izzeddine Al Derbani
Lightweight: Ahmed El Sisy vs. Abdullah Saleem
Flyweight: Hamad Marhoon vs. Ibrahim Chelabi
Women’s Strawweight: Eithar Hayyan vs. Marwa Abdelmonem