Saudi’s Al-Qahtani faces Jordan’s Alhyasat as 4 champions to be crowned in first PFL MENA Championships

This championship is creating a pathway for athletes from the region to compete in the PFL Global Season. (PFL)
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Updated 12 November 2024
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Saudi’s Al-Qahtani faces Jordan’s Alhyasat as 4 champions to be crowned in first PFL MENA Championships

  • Kingdom’s star Hattan Alsaif back in action as part of showcase featuring former champions and No. 1 contenders

RIYADH: The Professional Fighters League, in partnership with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation, announced today the full card for the 2024 PFL MENA Championships, which takes place on Nov. 29 at King Saud University in Riyadh.

The PFL MENA’s inaugural season has reached its conclusion and four champions will be crowned — in the welterweight, lightweight, featherweight and bantamweight divisions.

This championship is creating a pathway for athletes from the region to compete in the PFL Global Season.

The main event in the featherweight division will have Jordan’s Abdalrahman Alhyasat (5-0) taking on Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-2).

In the co-main event, the welterweight title will be decided between Kuwait’s Mohammad Alaqraa (7-0) and Egypt’s Omar El-Dafrawy (12-6).

At bantamweight, Iraq’s Ali Taleb (11-1) meets Morocco’s Rachid El-Hazoume (15-3), and in the lightweight division the title fight will be between Iran’s Mohsen Mohammadseifi (6-2) and Lebanon’s Georges Eid (10-4).

All championship bouts at PFL MENA will be five, five-minute rounds, and for the first time in the history of the PFL Championships, striking with elbows will be allowed.

In addition to the championship fights, undefeated Saudi Arabia star Hattan Alsaif will be in action against Algeria’s Lilia Osmani.

There will also be five showcase bouts taking place including former Bellator World Grand Prix participant Mansour Barnaoui (21-6) facing England’s Alfie Davis (17-4-1).

Also, Tunisia’s Slim Trabelsi (7-0) battles England’s Abraham Bably (5-0), and 2023 PFL featherweight titlist Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1) will face former Bellator featherweight contender Jeremy Kennedy (19-4).

In addition, France’s Asael Adjoudj (8-1) tangles with America’s Jose Perez (9-1).

Opening the card will be a middleweight battle between Costello van Steenis (15-3) and Brazil’s Joao Dantas (7-1).

Full PFL MENA Championships card:

Featherweight championship: Abdelrahman Alhyasat (5-0) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-2).

Welterweight championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (7-0) vs. Omar El-Dafrawy (12-6).

Amateur Women’s Atomweight Bout: Hattan Alsaif vs. Lilia Osmani.

Bantamweight championship: Ali Taleb (11-1) vs. Rachid El-Hazoume (15-3).

Lightweight championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (6-1) vs. Georges Eid (10-4).

Showcase Fights:

Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (21-6) vs. Alfie Davis (17-4-1).

Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (7-0) vs. Abraham Bably (5-0).

Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (23-6-1) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (19-4).

Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (8-1) vs. Jose Perez (9-1).

Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (15-3) vs. Joao Dantas (7-1).


Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement

Updated 17 December 2025
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Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement

  • Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance
  • Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents

LOS ANGELES: Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.

“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle,” Crawford said in his retirement message. “The one where you walk away on your own terms.”

Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance.

Crawford had also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month following a dispute over sanctioning fees.

Speaking in his video, Crawford said his career had been driven by a desire to keep “proving everyone wrong.”

“Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when,” Crawford said.

“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.”

“I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had.”

Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents.

He won his maiden world title, the WBO lightweight crown, with victory over Scotland’s Ricky Burns in 2014.

Crawford won 18 world titles in five weight classes, culminating in his win over Alvarez.

He retires having never been officially knocked down in a fight.

All of his 42 victories have come by way of unanimous decision or stoppage, with no judge ever scoring in favor of an opponent during his career.