From the Onyx Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the PFL brings to the table a bevy of incredible bouts with their first stacked MENA event of the year. Headlining the card, Mohsen Mohammadseifi faces Ahmed El Sisy. Before that, however, Izzeddine Al-Derbani battles UFC alum Yanis Ghemmouri.
Fighters are weighed in!
The main event of @PFLMENA is ready as they go to battle tomorrow!
🇮🇷 Mohammad Seifi 🆚 Ahmed El Sisy 🇪🇬#PFLMENA pic.twitter.com/rMfVGE8zEk
— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 8, 2025
PFL MENA 1 Main Event
A five-time wushu world champion, including earning a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games, Mohammadseifi had previously won last year’s PFL MENA lightweight competition. Seeking to sweep the bracket once more, “The Golden Boy” hopes to begin another successful title reign with an emphatic victory this Friday in PFL MENA 1’s main event.
Riding a five-fight win streak, El Sisy has looked impeccable in his recent outings to the cage, notching three knockout triumphs and securing the Qadya MMA Lightweight Championship. Competing in his first major promotional main event, the heavy-handed Egyptian can vault himself that much closer to the PFL 155-lb strap with another highlight-reel stoppage at PFL MENA 1.
PFL MENA 1 Co-Main Event
Coming off a first round submission defeat in his last bout, Al Derbani enters the PFL MENA tournament in search of redemption on one of the biggest stages in mixed martial arts. Known for his own exceptional ability to grapple at a high-level, “The Palestinian Samurai” aims to get back into the winner’s circle with a statement-making performance during PFL MENA 1’s co-headliner.
A veteran of two fights in the UFC, Ghemmouri has tangled with some of the hottest prospects in both the bantamweight and featherweight classes. Having not achieved a win since 2023, “The Desert Warrior” makes his PFL debut in PFL MENA 1 on a mission to get his hand raised as a hot organizational newcomer.
More Bouts On the PFL MENA 1 Main Card
Also on the main card of PFL MENA 1, the PFL presents the rest of the quarter final matches for their MENA featherweight and lightweight tournament, including the highly-touted Islam Reda going toe-to-toe with Akram Nasri. The show will also feature 11 undefeated fighters putting their coveted zeros on the line as they strive for successful performances on one of the grandest stages in all of Middle Eastern combat sports during PFL MENA 1.
PFL MENA 1 (2025) Predictions and Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event.
- PFL picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2025 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Find our PFL MENA 1 picks and fight odds below.
Staff records after UFC on ESPN 67:
- Hank Strandberg: 28-62
- Frazer Krohn: 19-50
- Drew Zuhosky: 18-72
- Jeremy Brand: 17-62
- Andrew Benjamin: 11-45
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
Youssef Al Housani -200
Vs.
Drissi Boualem +160
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Al Housani by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Al Housani by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Al Housani by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Al Housani by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Al Housani: 4
Staff picking Boualem: 0
Eman Almudhaf -240
Vs.
Shamara Braga +190
WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Braga by second round Knockout
Hank Strandberg: Almudhaf by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Braga by first round Knockout
Andrew Benjamin: Almudhaf by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Almudhaf: 2
Staff picking Braga: 2
Abdullah Saleem -154
Vs.
Souhil Tairi +120
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Saleem by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Saleem by first round Submission
Drew Zuhosky: Saleem by first round Knockout
Andrew Benjamin: Tairi by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Saleem: 3
Staff picking Tairi: 1
Ahmad Makki -135
Vs.
Hasham Elnamer +105
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Makki by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Elnamer by second round Knockout
Drew Zuhosky: Makki by second round Knockout
Andrew Benjamin: Makki by second round Knockout
Staff picking Makki: 3
Staff picking Elnamer: 1
Georges Eid -298
Vs.
Mohammad Fahmi +220
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Eid by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Fahmi by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Fahmi by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Eid by Split Decision
Staff picking Eid: 2
Staff picking Fahmi: 2
Islam Reda -330
Vs.
Akram Nasri +240
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Nasri by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Reda by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Reda by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Reda by Split Decision
Staff picking Reda: 3
Staff picking Nasri: 1
Hussein Salem -250
Vs.
Assem Ghanem +190
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Salem by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Salem by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Salem by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Salem by first round Knockout
Staff picking Salem: 4
Staff picking Ghanem: 0
Malik Basahel -580
Vs.
Mountassir Boutouta +380
FLYWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Basahel by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Basahel by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Boutouta by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Basahel by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Basahel: 3
Staff picking Boutouta: 1
Salah Eddine Hamli -425
Vs.
Abbas Khan +300
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Khan by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Hamli by first round Submission
Drew Zuhosky: Khan by third-round TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Khan by third round Knockout
Staff picking Hamli: 1
Staff picking Khan: 3
Yanis Ghemmouri -250
Vs.
Izzeddine Al Derbani +190
FEATHERWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Al Derbani by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Ghemmouri by second round Knockout
Drew Zuhosky: Ghemmouri by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Ghemmouri by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Ghemmouri: 3
Staff picking Al Derbani: 1
Mohsen Mohammadseifi -360
Vs.
Ahmed El Sisy +260
LIGHTWEIGHT
Jeremy Brand: Sisy by Unanimous Decision
Hank Strandberg: Mohammadseifi by Unanimous Decision
Drew Zuhosky: Mohammadseifi by Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Mohammadseifi by Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Mohammadseifi: 3
Staff picking El Sisy: 1
