Dimasheq News Platform
Syrian fighter Shadi Qabbani continues his journey in the Professional Fighters League’s PFL MENA 11 tournament when he faces Tunisian fighter Mehdi Saadi in the featherweight semi-finals on October 2 at the Global Theater in Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aiming to secure a place in the tournament final.
Qabbani enters the highly anticipated bout following an impressive run in the competition. He began his journey as a replacement who entered the tournament at the last minute, before successfully establishing himself among the leading contenders for the title. He is now just one victory away from reaching the final and competing for the championship.
Meanwhile, Tunisian fighter Mehdi Saadi returns to competition after a two-year absence due to injuries, adding further excitement to a contest in which both fighters are seeking to secure a ticket to the final.
The semi-final card features six bouts across the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions, in addition to several other fights. The event is headlined by an anticipated clash between Saudi fighter Mustafa Nada and Egyptian fighter Osama El-Saidi.
Also in the featherweight division, Bahrain’s Hamza Kooheji will face Algeria’s Ilyas Boudqzdam, with both fighters seeking to secure their place in the final.
In the welterweight division, Morocco’s Badr Eddine Diani, who has experience in the sport of sambo, will face Jordan’s Hazem Kiyali, one of the sport’s prominent rising talents and a former amateur champion. Palestinian fighter Omar Hussein will also meet Algeria’s Abdelkarim Zawad after both fighters secured their places in the semi-finals with decisive victories. Hussein won his bout by knockout, while Zawad claimed victory by submission.
In the lightweight division, Algeria’s Ilyas Ghiroun will face Egypt’s Basel Shaalan after Ghiroun succeeded in eliminating 2025 champion Salah Eddine Hamli. Iraqi fighter Mohammed Fahmi will also meet Egypt’s Ahmed El-Sisi as Fahmi looks to return to winning ways and make up for his defeat in last season’s final.
The main event between Saudi Arabia’s Mustafa Nada and Egypt’s Osama El-Saidi carries a special significance, as both fighters return to the cage nearly ten years after their last meeting. Each fighter has won one of their previous two encounters: Nada won the first bout by judges’ decision before El-Saidi responded with a technical knockout victory in the second.
The evening’s competition will conclude with an exhibition bout between Lebanese fighter Hassan Shaaban and Egyptian fighter Assem Ghanem, in addition to an amateur contest between Saudi Arabia’s Fatima Al-Omari and Algeria’s Aya Lounas.
The venue doors are scheduled to open to spectators at 4:00 p.m., while the first bout will begin at 5:00 p.m. Saudi time.
Shadi Qabbani hopes to continue his successful journey in the tournament and secure his place in the final, carrying the hopes of Syrian participation in the Professional Fighters League.
