PFL MENA returned with lightweight and featherweight tournament fights. The main event featured a featherweight quarterfinal between Mohammad Yahya and Mehdi Saadi. Saadi used heavy leg kicks while Yahya relied on longer reach and forward pressure with punches. After 15 minutes of striking, the judges awarded Saadi a split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30, and 29-28. Saadi advanced to the semifinals to face Hamza Kooheji. In the co-main event, Ylies Djiroun defeated Salah Eddine Hamli by TKO at 4:20 of Round 1 after body shots. Hamli will face Basel Ahmed Shalaan next. Hamza Kooheji also won a featherweight quarterfinal via unanimous control, taking a 29-28 decision over Taha Bendaoud.
"The PFL MENA 9 main event was a featherweight quarterfinal fight between Mohammad Yahya and Mehdi Saadi. Both men came out looking to strike, with Saadi (7-2) landing hard leg kicks and Yahya (12-7) using his longer reach to find success at distance. The legs of "The UAE Warrior" were heavily damaged as the fight went on, but Yahya never stopped coming forward and throwing punches. After 15 minutes of back-and-forth striking, the judges preferred the work of Saadi, who took a split decision with scores of 30-27, 27-30 and 29-28."
"With the victory, the French fighter will take on Hamza Kooheji in the semifinals. The co-main event saw lightweights Salah Eddine Hamli and Ylies Djiroun go to battle. The sharp striking of Djiroun (25-9) kept the fight interesting at a distance. Hamli (11-1) was able to find some slight success in the clinch, but couldn't get his opponent to the ground."
"Once he had space to work, Djiroun's superior striking came through as body shots folded Hamli, who was promptly pounded out by "Broly." The TKO stoppage officially came at 4:20 of Round 1, and Hamli will now fight Basel Ahmed Shalaan in the semifinals. Kooheji and Taha Bendaoud clashed with a spot in the featherweight semifinals on the line."
"Kooheji (15-4) used his superior wrestling to constantly keep "Atlas Lion" on his back. Unable to get back to his feet often or attack with submissions, Bendaoud (5-2) dropped a clear-cut decision after being controlled for 15 minutes as all judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor of his opponent."
Read at Sherdog
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