Ahmed El Sisy scores judges’ nod in striking-filled battle

A member of the KHK MMA Team, Abbas Khan is a powerful striker, having been a two-time Bahrain amateur boxing champion. He comes into tonight’s bout with an 8-4 MMA record, which includes three finishes, as well as notable wins over Omar El-Defrawy and Omar Hussein. Khan competed on the Jeddah card this past May, losing to Salah Eddine Hamli.

Ahmed El Sisy has found success in his combat career, having picked up national titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Wushu Sanda, as well as having earned a Qadya lightweight title. El Sisy enters tonight with a 6-2 (1 NC) record in MMA. He also competed in the May card, falling to Mohsen Mohammadseifi.

Who will come out on top in this bout and gain their first PFL MENA win?

Round 1

Khan with a low kick to start things. The two move around the center of the SmartCage. El Sisy with a high kick that gets caught by Khan. El Sisy fights it off, but Khan makes him eat a right hand. Both flash and land jabs. Low kick by Khan. El Sisy lands a right and presses Khan, landing a takedown. Khan scoots his way to the fence. El Sisy stays with a hold on Khan’s legs. Khan gets back to his feet, though El Sisy keeps a hold of him. Mat return by El Sisy. El Sisy lands a knee as Khan gets back up.

El Sisy with a kick, and Khan catches it, landing a right hand before dumping El Sisy to the mat. El Sisy gets up and we have separation. El Sisy with another takedown. Some left hands by El Sisy as Khan gets up. El Sisy keeps the body lock. Khan battling for wrist control and landing some inside knees. Khan with a pair of knees. An exchange on the separation. El Sisy pressing Khan as the two swing away. Khan goes for a defensive takedown, but El Sisy stuffs that. El Sisy looks to land some ground-and-pound from half guard.

Round 2

El Sisy on the front foot to start, flashing his jabs. Right hand by El Sisy. Low kick by El Sisy and a counter right by Khan. El Sisy responds with a right hand of his own, and it knocks Khan down! El Sisy pressing Khan against the fence. El Sisy with a couple of more right hands. The two swing away in an exchange. El Sisy appears to have Khan hurt. El Sisy tries a takedown, but Khan is defending it. Khan is staying on the outside on the separation. Left hand by El Sisy. El Sisy continues to bring the pressure. A right hand by El Sisy. A Khan duck and counter.

Khan with a low kick. Left hand by El Sisy as Khan lands a low kick. Left to the body by El Sisy. Khan trying to move and pressure back. Low kick by Khan. El Sisy pressures again, narrowly misses a right. One-two by El Sisy. Khan flashes a spinning kick. A left and a right by El Sisy as he works another combination. Another combination against the fence. Khan tries and lands a clinch knee. El Sisy can’t score the takedown. Jabs from both men. Khan narrowly misses a head kick. El Sisy with a kick now. Combinations from both men.

Round 3

Combinations from both men to start. Khan is trying to bring the fight to him. Right hand by El Sisy. Khan misses a jumping knee but lands a right hand. El Sisy level changes, but Khan locks up his head briefly. Left hand by Khan as the two exchange jabs. Another jab exchange. Right hand by Khan. Another right hand. Khan is trying to swing. Khan lands another big right hand. Khan is looking to land that thing at will. One-two from El Sisy. Jabs from both men. Left hand to the body by El Sisy. Right hands by El Sisy. Low kick by Khan.

Right hand by El Sisy. El Sisy with a combination. Right hands from both men. Front kick by Khan. Khan lands to the body. El Sisy with a kick attempt. Khan pressuring El Sisy again. Left hand by Khan. El Sisy with a combination. Left hands from both men. Left hand by Khan, followed up by a right hand. Khan seems to have done some damage to El Sisy. El Sisy answers back with a combination. Khan with a combination. Khan lands a left hand.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Ahmed El Sisy def. Abbas Khan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)