JEDDAH: The 2025 PFL MENA season kicks off on May 9 with Jordan’s Abdelrahman Alhyasat facing Taha Bendaoud of Morocco in the quarterfinals of the featherweight tournament at Onyx Arena in Jeddah.
Last season, Alhyasat was a revelation at 145 pounds, picking up impressive wins over Ahmed Tarek and eventual champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani to reach the final round, before being forced to withdraw due to injury.
Now back to full health, the 35-year-old is planning to get back to the top of the mountain and claim the title that many fans believe should have been his in the first place.
“This tournament is a pivotal moment in my professional career. It’s not just another fight — it’s a step toward something much bigger,” Alhyasat said.
“Thanks to God, I’m more than ready for this league. I’ve worked hard to reach this level, and I believe my skill set is above everyone else in the division.”
After last season’s dominant win over Al-Qahtani, Alhyasat is coming into the new season with a lot of confidence on his side.
“I’m entering the cage with full confidence and a clear goal: to achieve another milestone for Jordan,” he said.
For this season, Alhyasat spent time training in Thailand and said that there he sharpened every aspect of his game, working with coaches from every discipline.
“Right now, I’m in Phuket, training with some of the best coaches in the world. I’ve surrounded myself with specialists in boxing, wrestling, and grappling to make sure no detail is left behind,” Alhyasat said.
“This camp has been the most intense and focused of my career — it’s about refining every part of my game so I can perform at my best when it matters most.”
But Alhyasat will have his work cut out for him when he takes on a highly rated PFL MENA newcomer in Moroccan Taha Bendaoud.
“Bendaoud is a strong opponent, and I respect his skills,” said Alhyasat. “He’s not far off in level from someone like Abdullah Al-Qahtani. He’s got the talent, no doubt.”
While Alhyasat has nothing but respect, the Jordanian said that he has faced Bendaoud before and knows exactly what he brings to the table.
“I’ve faced him before and come out on top. I know where his weaknesses are, and I’ve trained specifically to exploit them,” Alhyasat said. “I’ve prepared a game plan that leaves no room for mistakes.”
As for a fight prediction, Alhyasat sees this one being over quickly.
“This fight will end in the first round, God willing. I’m ready to send a message to everyone in the division,” he said.
While Bendaoud will be making his PFL MENA debut, this will not be his first time inside the PFL SmartCage. The undefeated Moroccan is 4-0 in his fledgling career, and was initially supposed to be part of the inaugural PFL MENA season, but missed weight for his season debut, and ended up being forced off the tournament altogether.
He bounced back in spectacular fashion with a second-round submission win over the more experienced Tariq Ismail at Battle of the Giants in October. The impressive win over the previously undefeated Ismail became sort of an audition for this year’s PFL MENA season, and his reward is a quarterfinal bout against the man who dominated the division’s champion.
With a second chance at becoming a PFL MENA champion, Bendaoud said he is ready for another opportunity.
“I’m having the best fight camp of my life. I’ve been training twice a day since my last fight, and I feel like I’ve evolved in every part of my game. I’m excited to step in there and show the PFL fans what I’ve been working on.”
Bendaoud added that the missed opportunity in Season 1 was a big learning experience.
“In Season 1, I wasn’t in shape and I couldn’t make weight. I missed a big opportunity, but it taught me a lot,” he said. “Since then, I’ve been working really hard to be at my best. I’m on weight and more focused than ever.”
Against Alhyasat, Bendaoud admitted that he will be sharing the SmartCage with a tough opponent.
“(Alhyasat) is a solid, well-rounded fighter with a lot of experience,” he said. “I respect his skills and I think it’s a great challenge.”
But Bendaoud believes that he can hang with Alhyasat, no matter what situation their fight brings.
“I feel confident in every area: striking, grappling, wrestling. I’m prepared for whatever comes and ready to perform at a high level,” Bendaoud said.
While Bendaoud is not one for predictions, what he guarantees is that he will give his best and that the fans can expect a great fight.
“I don’t like to make predictions, but I can promise this: I’ll give my best, fight with heart and confidence, and leave it all in there. The rest is in Allah’s hands, He’s the best of planners.”
“We’re going to put on a great show for the fans,” Bendaoud said.
