Emirati MMA fighters Hadi Al Hussaini and Youssef Al Housani will participate in Showcase bouts at the first PFL MENA season.
PFL MENA, a regional hub for MMA competition, uses the established PFL Season format and hosts all events live in the Middle East and North Africa.
The season’s first event, PFL MENA: Riyadh, will take place on Friday, May 10, broadcast live on MBC ACTION and streamed on SHAHID, MENA’s leading platform by MBC GROUP, making it available across the region.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has signed Emirati MMA prospects, flyweight Hadi Omar Al Hussaini and featherweight Youssef Al Housani, to exclusive, multi-fight contracts. Both are set to feature in Showcase bouts in the inaugural PFL MENA season before joining the next year’s roster.
Gustavo Firmino, VP of Fighter Operations at PFL MENA, expressed excitement about adding two prominent UAE fighters, noting PFL’s goal to uncover exceptional talent worldwide. This effort is supported by PFL’s partnership with SRJ Sports.
“The mission of the PFL is to find the best fighters in every region around the world. Our partnership with SRJ Sports has allowed the PFL to identify and sign exceptional fighters like Al Hussaini and Al Housani who we know have the potential to become global stars in the sport.”
Hadi Omar Al Hussaini, who remains undefeated with a 5-0-1 record, is training at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. Youssef Al Housani, with a 4-1 record, is a skilled grappler with multiple titles from the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro championships. He also acts, recently appearing in a UAE-based TV show.
PFL operates a unique sports-season format in MMA, including a regular season, playoffs, and championship. It shares 30% of its top fighters with Bellator, comparable to UFC’s rankings. PFL is expanding globally with leagues like PFL Europe and MENA, and innovates with technology such as the PFL SmartCage. The league airs on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and reaches 150 countries through 20 media partners.
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