NEW YORK, US: Muay Thai athlete Hattan Alsaif has become the first Saudi woman to sign an exclusive multi-fight contract with a global mixed martial arts promotion.
The Professional Fighters League announced the historic signing of Alsaif in a media statement.
The 22-year-old, a gold medal winner at the 2023 International Federation of Muay Thai Associations World Championships, said: “Receiving a contract from the PFL is a dream come true.”
Alsaif, who took first place at the World Combat Games and at the Saudi Games, anticipates making her amateur MMA debut for the PFL this year.
She added: “As the first Saudi woman signed to a global MMA contract I do not take the responsibility lightly, and I am committed to representing my country.
“I hope to pave the way for aspiring female fighters. I am thankful to God and the PFL for this incredible opportunity.”
Ray Sefo, president of fighter operations at the PFL, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Alsaif, a truly groundbreaking athlete, to the PFL.
“In collaboration with our partner, SRJ Sports, PFL is dedicated to discovering exceptional fighters like Alsaif and championing the cause of women in MMA in the region. Our goal is to provide them with a global platform to showcase their skill sets.”
Alsaif will train predominantly with Abdullah Al-Qahtani. Her signing bolsters a roster that will have opportunities to compete in PFL MENA (Middle East and North Africa), the PFL’s second regional league outside the US.
The PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, in which individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year.
Hattan Alsaif makes history as first Saudi woman to sign with major global MMA promotion
https://arab.news/8bb8m
Hattan Alsaif makes history as first Saudi woman to sign with major global MMA promotion
- ‘Receiving a contract from the PFL is a dream come true,’ says fighter
- ‘I do not take the responsibility lightly, and I am committed to representing my country,’ she adds
Rhodes leads after second round of PIF Saudi Ladies International
- 2025 LET Rookie of the Year leads in PIF Global Series 2026 opener
- WiMENA panels gather trailblazing women to spark dialogue
RIYADH: England’s Mimi Rhodes backed up a stellar opening in round two of the PIF Saudi Ladies International at Riyadh Golf Club, moving into an outright lead and fending off advances from South Africa’s Casandra Alexander and Chizzy Iwai of Japan.
The 24-year-old, who was the Ladies European Tour’s 2025 Rookie of the Year, posted a score of 69 to move to an overall total of 11-under-par to lead by one.
Another former LET Rookie of the Year, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who now has 12 professional wins, sits one shot further back in tied fourth alongside Japan’s Rio Takeda. Eight players are tied for sixth and England’s Charley Hull lies four back from her compatriot alongside past champion Patty Tavatanakit.
Reflecting on her mindset, and how she has approached the week so far, Rhodes said: “Honestly, I was so excited. Having two months off competitive golf, it’s so long, but I just got back into the swing of things.
“Holing putts is my main goal out there and having the greens rolling really nicely is definitely an advantage for that. I’m just taking it chilled out there and being patient.
“I wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself, but obviously it’s a big event, one of the PIF Global Series, so I wanted to do well, and start with a cut made. I’ve done more than that. I think I can be proud of myself and now (I will) just see what happens. I’m happy.”
The second day of the event highlighted Golf Saudi’s investment in the future of women’s sport with the WiMENA (Women in Middle East and North Africa) panels, which included pioneering Saudi athletes such as Kariman Abuljadayel, the trailblazing sprinter who set a Guinness World Record for the 10 km open water row. Joining her were Razan Al-Ajmi, Saudi Arabia's first female skydiver, members of the Saudi national rugby team and other prominent Olympians and sports figures.
Ameera Marghalani, a pioneering female Saudi rugby national team member, said: “I want to see the support for sports grow exponentially across the country.
“My vision is to see more young girls and women joining the sporting community, not just in major cities but across every corner of Saudi Arabia.”
