Ayeni Olusegun
Riyadh
Home favourite and headliner Abdullah Al Qahtani has shrugged off talks of pressure ahead of the top card clash against Moroccan Taha Bendaoud on May 10 (Friday) as the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) launches in Riyadh.
Nicknamed ‘The Reaper,’ the Saudi Arabian fighter carries the energy of thousands in the cage and stressed to Qatar Tribune that fighting at home doesn’t faze him; he enjoys the energy of his supporters.
“It’s not pressure (fighting at home), but something big,” the featherweight who has wrestling and Muay Thai foundation, said. “When I fight, the team and all those who support me are fighting with me. It’s massive. In this PFL MENA, I am focused and have my strategy to win this fight.
Then, after the win, I can be stressed with other things,” he quipped.
The 26-year-old is on a three-fight win streak and has won all three fights with PFL. He comes up against a confident Bendaoud, who comes in with a three-fight win streak and has made it no secret he thrives on conquering his opponents on their home floor.
“I’m ready for him,” Al Qahtani said. “Every fighter is good, but I am a perfect fighter. I have prepared well; I will go to the fight and win. It’s like another day and another fight. It’s my second fight here in Saudi Arabia, and with the PFL, it’s my fourth. We have worked harder than anyone, and I’m ready for it,” he added.
The PFL is the fastest-growing company in mixed martial arts (MMA) and the second-largest MMA company worldwide, only behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development.
Besides, MMA is the fastest-growing sport globally and is now one of the most popular. In the Middle East, the demand for the sport has reached incredible heights in recent years. With the PFL’s presence, many expect the sport to grow bigger.
“MMA isn’t exactly new or old to the region, but it’s growing rapidly. Before, people didn’t know what MMA is. Now, when I go outside, many people know me, and they know the sport. Maybe the popularity isn’t that much yet, but it is better than before,” Al Qahtani noted.
“I see in future, this will grow like it is in New York or other cities in combat sports. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East -- the sport will grow big,” he added.
History Makers
Echoing the same sentiment, bantamweight, Sudan’s Tariq Ismail, while promising to lay the beating on opponent Jalal Al Daaja, said fighters in this edition of PFL MENA will be remembered and will go down in history memorably.
“This is the first PFL MENA tournament ever and will be a staple. Whoever is organizing it, thank you so much,” Ismail said.
“As Arab fighters, Muslim fighters and fighters worldwide, we appreciate this because we feel like superstars when we’re here. We dedicate our whole life to this and are very disciplined in what we do. So, to have this appreciation for us means a lot,” he added.
Ismail, known as ‘Desert Storm’ in the MMA circle, knows the danger he faces against Jordanian Al Daaja. The Sudanese beat his Friday opponent five years ago and anticipates a tough session with his fellow veteran.
“We’re both veterans of the sport. We fought each other before, and I beat him the first time. We’re fighting five years later, so things have changed,” Ismail noted.
“He’s coming with a lot of excitement and wants to avenge his loss. I’m coming with an excitement that I want to put a statement to the whole tournament. I want to show everybody that if you get me as the next fight, that’s a nightmare fight.
That’s my purpose for this fight.”
