PFL is back with their MENA tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next weekend. This PFL MENA card will be broadcast on DAZN and starts at 11:30 AM ET on Friday 12th July.
JARRAH HUSSEIN AL-SILAWI (19-6) vs. BASHAER THAER (4-2) – Welterweight
The PFL is definitely planning on making Jarrah the face of PFL MENA. He is a very talented striker who made a name for himself in BRAVE before signing to the PFL in 2022-2023. In that period of time he was knocked out three consecutive times and it seems like he has lost his chin which is something to keep an eye on in the future. He should be able to get past the very inexperienced wrestler Thaer though. Thaer has not fought good competition and he has very ploddy, slow striking. This feels like a set up for Jarrah to get a big KO.
BADREDDINE DIANI (7-3) vs. AMIR FAZLI (6-1) – Welterweight
This co-main event should be a fun battle between two strikers. Diani is somewhat small for the weight class but he is very quick. Fazli is also a striker but he will be bigger with much more power. Out of the two Fazli is also more likely to take the fight down to ground as I have seen Diani taken down somewhat easily, whereas Fazli has shown solid take down defense. I do like the power of Fazli to find a finish but this should be a fun scrap.
MOHAMMAD ALAQRAA (5-0) vs. YOUCEF OUABBAS (3-0) – Welterweight
Alaqraa is a solid wrestler who trains out of American Kickboxing Academy. He fights Youcef who is a former middleweight who hasn't fought for over two years. Youcef is a tall, yet very slim striker. Since he hasn't fought for over two years it is tough to predict how he will look here but Alaqraa has looked solid over decent competition so I expect him to use his wrestling to win by decision.
JOSH TOGO (13-5) vs. MOHSEN MOHAMMADSEIFI (4-2) – Lightweight
This should also be another fun striking fight. Josh Togo is a very awkward kick boxer who throws strikes from very odd angles. He looks to use his size to fight from range. Mohsen is a short fighter for the weight class but he is very aggressive and strikes in close a lot. He has a wushu (kung fu) background where he won multiple world championships in wushu representing Iran. I am picking Togo as he has proven himself against much higher level competition throughout his career and there should be a big size difference here. Mohsen will make this fight fun by being aggressive and closing the distance but Togo should be able to control the pace and fight from the outside.
AHMED AMIR (12-4-1) vs. SOUHIL TAIRI (6-4-1) – Lightweight
Amir is a very aggressive who shoots take downs very often. Once he gets those take downs he isn't very dangerous and just dominates in top control. His opponent Tairi is well rounded and should be the better striker in this fight. Tairi can also offensively wrestle which could make the fight interesting. Amir suffered a bad loss in his last fight to Bruno Miranda but he showed a lot of toughness. I can trust Amir to consistently shoot take downs and really work on the gas tank of Tairi so I will side with him to win by decision.
FULL CARD QUICK PICKS:
Jarrah Husein Al-Silawi – High Confidence
Amir Fazli – Low Confidence
Mohammad Alaqraa – Medium Confidence
Josh Togo – Medium Confidence
Ahmed Amir – Low Confidence
Omar El Dafrawy – Medium Confidence
Hattan Alsaif – High Confidence
Abdullah Saleem – Low Confidence
Abbas Khan – Low Confidence
Hadi Omar Hussaini – Medium Confidence
