Badreddine Diani shows striking prowess, endurance as he pushes his way to semifinals

Badreddine Diani found great success in Combat Sambo in Africa, winning national championships in the discipline nine times. The former regional welterweight champion from Morocco has scored finishes in four of his eight MMA victories. Diani defeated Amir Fazli in last year’s opening round but was unable to advance in the tournament due to injury.

Ahmed Abdelbast has found his own success in martial arts, becoming a four-time African Sambo Champion, a two-time African Wrestling Champion, and a two-time African Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion. “The Egyptian Eagle” is currently 4-0 in MMA, with three finishes. He most recently fought in November, scoring a first-round finish of Mohamed Said.

These two previously met in the 2023 African Combat Sambo Championship, with Diani getting the win based on a yellow card for Abdelbast. Now, in MMA, who will advance to the PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament Semifinals?

Round 1

Low kicks from both men to start things off. Left jab from Diani. Both men throw a right. Another low kick from Diani. Left to the body by Diani. Abdelbast shoots in and gets Diani against the fence. Abdelbast moves Diani along the fence. Right hands from Diani. Abdelbast goes for the takedown, but Diani gets right back up. Abdelbast still struggling for the takedown and he eats an elbow in the meantime. Diani breaks the grip. Right hand from Diani. Left hand from Abdelbast. Right hand by Diani. Low kicks again.

Left to the body by Diani. Abdelbast lands a left to the body, and then goes in for another takedown as he slips. Left hand from Diani as Abdelbast pushes him to another part of the SmartCage. Right hand by Diani after the separation. Abdelbast missing the right overhand. Left hand from both men. Diani with a pair of left jabs. Diani prevents a takedown attempt, but Abdelbast pins him to the fence again. Abdelbast nearly scores the takedown, but he’s able to get to Diani’s back and score the takedown there. Right hand from Abdelbast as Diani gets to his feet.

Round 2

Low kick from Diani. Left hand from Diani. Right hand from Abdelbast seemed to catch his attention. And again. Flurry from Abdelbast! Abdelbast is throwing, and Diani is answering! Power haymakers from these two, especially from Abdelbast! Some more big swinging here. Abdelbast using a lot of energy here, and Diani answers with a takedown. Diani is able to work his way to his back. He circles over to the front. Abdelbast with a sit-out, and now he’s in control, pressing Diani back into the fence. Abdelbast gets a hold of Diani’s waist.

Diani is able to get in control and press Abdelbast. Abdelbast landing some right hands while pressed into the fence. Knee from Diani. Abdelbast is able to get away after some good shots from Diani. Right hand from Diani. Leg kick from Diani, as well as a left hand. Leg kick from Diani. Another left-right from Diani. Left hand from Diani. Abdelbast is looking at something – The clock? His corner? Abdelbast shoots for a takedown, and he appears to be fatigued. He’s pressing Diani into the fence again. Some right hands from Diani before the bell.

Round 3

Diani circling, not much being thrown in the first 30 seconds of this round. Low kick from Abdelbast. Overhand right from Abdelbast. Jabs from Abdelbast. Diani with a left. And another. And another. Left hook from Abdelbast. Low kick from Diani. Abdelbast chases, and he runs into the fence going for the takedown. He still gets Diani against the fence. Diani tries to land a knee. Shots to the stomach from Diani before the separation.

Both miss right hands. Front kick from Diani. Right hand from Diani, and he avoids a Abdelbast takedown attempt. Left hand and a right from Diani. Big right hand from Abdelbast. Small combination from Diani, but Abdelbast avoids it. Abdelbast misses a left but tries to walk Diani down. Right hand from Abdelbast. Abdelbast walking forward with his hands down, looking for a slugfest. Diani lands a couple of strong punches, as he walks back away from Abdelbast. Left jab from Diani. Left jab from Abdelbast, and Abdelbast presses Diani into the fence. A separation. One-two from Abdelbast, and time is called due to a knee that lands low on Diani. Abdelbast gets off one right hand before the final bell.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Badreddine Diani def. Ahmed Abdelbast via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)