During the second half of August, some fighters from the Middle East region will be featured on highly profiled fight cards. Both UFC and PFL will give them chance to showcase their skill in front of a worldwide audience.
Professional Fighters League 8: 2022 Playoffs:
Mohammad Fakhreddine vs. Marcin Wojcik
https://www.facebook.com/moefakhreddin/photos/a.872890026247027/2154909018045115/
Fakhreddine has a 15 – 4 professional record and will make his PFL debut next weekend. A two-division Brave CF champion in the middleweight and light heavyweight, he won his last fight at BRAVE CF 57, where he beat Mohamed Said Maalem. This was a rematch for their previous bout at BRAVE CF 52. Both fights were light heavyweight title affairs with Maalem winning the first one. However, due to illegal strikes to the back of the head, the fight was overturned to a no-contest and the Algerian fighter was stripped of the title. Fakhreddine won the rematch to become the reigning champion.
The Polish fighter Marcin Wójcik is a former light heavyweight champion of Polish MMA promotion Fight Exclusive Night. He won the belt at FEN 31 by beating his countryman, Adam Kowalski, but lost it in his first defense against Eder de Souza at FEN 36. He bounced back by defeating Paweł Hardaś at FEN 39.
PFL 8 will take place on August 14th at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales
UFC on ESPN 41:
Youssef Zalal vs. Cristian Quinones
? #TeamIridium Fight News ?
— IridiumSportsAgency (@TeamIridiumISA) August 5, 2022
Our man @moroccandevil45 shoots for his 4th @ufc victory on Aug. 13 ✍? #TheDarkside pic.twitter.com/071TiRhMMz
The Moroccan fighter has a 10 – 5 professional record. Zalal is an LFA veteran, where he stacked a 4 – 2 balance. He made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at UFC 247, where secured a decision win over Austin Lingo. He continued his winning streak inside the octagon by defeating Jordan Griffin at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker and Peter Barrett at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik
Quinones is an XFC, Brave CF, and Combate veteran with a 16 -3 record. He will be making his UFC debut after successfully securing his contract by defeating Long Xiao at Dana White’s Contender Series. He’s currently on the four-fight winning streak.
UFC on ESPN 41 will take place on August 13th at Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California.
Professional Fighters League 9: 2022 Playoffs:
OFFICIAL: All bouts are confirmed for our 2022 #PFLPlayoffs London Fight Card going down Saturday, August 20th!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 13, 2022
?️ https://t.co/YsUCSAEuC7 pic.twitter.com/P9ik7sAowO
PFL will continue its European expansion by holding an event in London. This fight card will feature three representatives of the Middle East region, who were UAE Warriors regulars
Ali Taleb vs. Kenji Bortoluzzi
The Iraqi fighter has an unblemished 7 – 0 record and is unbeaten inside UAE Warriors cage, where he grabbed the bantamweight gold. On his way to championship he defeated such individuals as Nawras Abzakh,Mohamed El Masbahi, Victor Nunes, Mahmoud Mando and Vinicus de Oliveira. After winning the championship he was signed by the PFL.
The Swiss sports a 11 – 4 – 1 professional record. He was enjoying a four-fight winning streak which was put to an end by Luca Iovine at EMC 4. Bortoluzzi bounced back by defeating Barosz Wojckiewicz at Superior Challenge 23. The European MMA circuit veteran also will be making his PFL debut.
Hassna Jaber vs. Dakota Ditcheva
The Moroccan fighter stacked up a 4 – 1 record. She made name for herself on the Egyptian MMA circuit and later signed with UAE Warriors. There she suffered her first loss after being submitted by Eman Almudhaf at UAE Warriors 21. She bounced back by defeating Sabriye Sengül at UAE Warriors 29.
The Englishwoman is unbeaten as she secured five consecutive wins. Her last fight took place at UAE Warriors 28, where she bested Paula Cristina.
PFL 9 will take place on August 20th at Copper Box Arena in London, UK.
UFC 278:
Amir Al Bazi vs. Francisco Figueiredo
#UFC278 i am bringing the heat
— The Prince (@AmirAlbazi) July 29, 2022
Keep feeding me these “blackbelts” and i will keep tapping them out. pic.twitter.com/u1iWwLpfqN
The Iraqi fighter with a 14 – 1 record is Bellator and Brave CF alumni, who made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 where he submitted Malcom Gordon. He won his most recent fight at UFC 257, where he secured a decision win over Zhalgas Zhumagulov.
The Brazilian is 2 – 1 in the UFC, as he defeated both Jerome Rivera and Daniel De Silva, but lost to Malcolm Gordon.
UFC 278 takes place on August 20th at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
