Mohammad Alaqraa outlasts in pressure-filled fight to claim PFL MENA welterweight gold

Mohammad Alaqraa is a judo black belt and has earned titles in that discipline, as well as jiu-jitsu. A product of Javier Mendez, he enters tonight 9-1 in MMA. After falling to Omar El Dafrawy in last year’s title fight, Alaqraa has reached the finals once again with victories over Omar Hussein and Ayman Galal during this PFL MENA season.

Badreddine Diani has picked up titles in Combat Sambo and hopes to translate that success to MMA. The former regional welterweight champion is 10-3 in MMA, with four finishes to his name. After missing out on last year’s semifinals due to injury, Diani scored decision wins over Ahmed Darwish and Amir Fazil this year to earn his finals berth.

Which of these two will finally claim PFL MENA gold as Welterweight Tournament Champion to close out the 2025 PFL MENA Tournament?

Round 1

Low kick from Diani. Low kick missed by Alaqraa. Quick strong left by Alaqraa. High kick by Alaqraa doesn’t connect. Low kick by Diani, but Alaqraa is pressing him. Jab by Alaqraa. Another jab by Alaqraa. Diani tries to land a combination. One-two by Diani. Left hand by Alaqraa. Alaqraa pressuring, and now he level changes. The two are against the SmartCage. Diani stays firm and gets out of the grasp. Jab to the body by Alaqraa. Left hand to the body by Diani. A high kick from Alaqraa is blocked.

Low kick by Diani. Strong high kick by Alaqraa. Both miss jabs. Right hand by Diani. Low kick by Diani. One-two inside by Diani. Left hands by Diani. Push kick by Alaqraa. Left hands by Diani, as Alaqraa lands low kicks. Low kick by Alaqraa. They go inside, and Diani lands a series of body shots. Diani misses a pair of left hooks. Diani misses a spinning backfist. High kick lands for Alaqraa to end the round.

Round 2

Both miss a left. High kick misses for Alaqraa. Diani counters with a couple of shots. Low kick by Diani. Alaqraa with a left jab, as he tries to re-establish pressure. Left jab by Alaqraa. Body kick by Alaqraa, but Diani lands a couple of big rights. Overhand right by Alaqraa. Alaqraa’s takedown attempt gets countered by a couple of punches by Diani. Diani with a couple of low kicks. Strong left hand drops Diani! Diani back to his feet, but Alaqraa pins him against the fence. Knee by Alaqraa! Diani reverses the position! One-two by Diani. Knee by Alaqraa.

Right hand misses for Diani. Right hand by Alaqraa, and he presses Diani into the fence again. Diani with a takedown, but they’re quickly back to their feet. Back to the center, and Alaqraa is back to working the jab. Alaqraa with a left. Low kick by Alaqraa. One-two by Diani. Diani grabs a leg, but his takedown attempt is denied. He then spins Diani around to get his back to the fence.

Round 3

Diani flashing the left. Low kick by Alaqraa. Both trying to land outside shots. Diani with a body lock, and he scores a takedown. Alaqraa quickly back to his feet but still in Diani’s grasp. Diani with a left hand. Low kick by Alaqraa. Diani presses Alaqraa into the fence, and Alaqraa reverses the position again. Double underhooks by Diani, and we’re back to the center.

Front kick by Alaqraa. Right hand by Diani. Front kick by Alaqraa. Right hand by Diani. Another right hand. Alaqraa lands a strong left hand. Diani answers with a combination. One-two by Diani. High kick from Diani doesn’t fully land. Alaqraa with a right hand. Round kick by Alaqraa. One-two by Diani again. Low kick by Alaqraa. Left hand by Diani. Round kick by Alaqraa. Low kick by Diani. One-two by Diani. Low kick by Alaqraa. Diani with a forward combination, and he tries a flying knee! Strong three-punch combination by Diani before the horn!

Round 4

Left hand by Diani. Left hand by Alaqraa. Right hand by Alaqraa. Diani bouncing on the outside. Left hand by Diani. Diani grabs a leg and presses Alaqraa into the fence. Diani goes for a trip, but Alaqraa is the one who ends up on top! Alaqraa is now trying to work in Diani’s guard. Alaqraa lands left punches to the body, while Diani answers from the bottom with right hands to the head. Diani re-establishing the full guard.

Alaqraa seems comfortable just working in the guard here. Diani is landing some shots around Alaqraa’s body. Alaqraa keeps pressure from the top, eliminating space between them. Diani lands as he tries to create distance. Alaqraa isn’t struggling, however, and he continues to land short strikes with his top pressure. Once this fight went to the ground, it pretty much stayed there for this round, as it looks like Alaqraa is looking to play the long game here.

Round 5

The two exchange a hug to start the final round here in Saudi Arabia. Both throwing lefts to start the round. Kick to the body by Diani. Left hand, followed by a right by Alaqraa. Diani presses Alaqraa into the fence once more. He gets Alaqraa down and takes his back. Alaqraa gets to his feet but still has Diani on him. Diani continues to hunt the takedown. Alaqraa works his way back to a standing position, however. Diani with a left hand. Low left kick, and Alaqraa counters with a jab. High kick by Alaqraa. Left hand by Alaqraa. Diani with a combination.

Both men exchange, but we get a brief timeout for an accidental eye poke. Left hand by Alaqraa on the resumption. Diani pressures again, and he scores another takedown. Diani fights for back control once again, even as Alaqraa is on his feet. Diani with a left on the separation. Diani comes forward with pressure, but Alaqraa lands a counter left hand. Round kicks from both men. Left hand by Alaqraa, and Diani misses a counter. One-two by Alaqraa. Diani tells Alaqraa to throw down in the final minute. Diani with a combination as Alaqraa goes back. Diani with another takedown. Diani with back control again. A right hand and a knee while pressed from Alaqraa. Diani with some body shots. Knee by Alaqraa. Alaqraa with another inside shot to end the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Mohammad Alaqraa defeats Badreddine Diani by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47x2) to win the 2025 PFL MENA Welterweight Tournament Title.