Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Emirati fighter Hadi Omar Al Hussaini is approaching the big day on Saturday with confidence when the newly minted Road to Dubai Champions Series, organised by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), will kickstart at the Coca-Cola Arena.
The inaugural season’s start will be a grand opening statement where the main bout will be the eye-watering clash between the popular Bellator lightweight world champion Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) and Ireland’s Paul Hughes (13-1), who is coming off the biggest victory of his MMA career in November at PFL “Battle of the Giants” after defeating AJ McKee.
On the local front, Al Hussaini (5-1-1) is aiming a return to winning ways after losing his undefeated record – on his PFL debut in July – when he takes on Ruel Panales (5-2).
Emirati Youssef Al Housani (4-1) was also due to face Egypt’s undefeated Assem Ghanem (4-0) but the fight has now been removed.
Dubai’s 971 Academy product John Mitchell (9-2), a five-time Irish MMA champion, will enter the cage against Algerian competitor Souhil Tairi (7-5-1). Another Dubai-based fighter, Yakub Sulimanov (7-0) will put his unblemished record on the line against Jordan’s experienced Jarrah Al Selawe (20-7). The marquee preliminary bout of the night will see Tarek Suleiman (13-8) square off against Ahmed “Lee” Samy (11-4).
Meanwhile, Hughes has called Saturday’s engagement as coming at an opportune time of his career. “This fight demands both physical strength and mental focus,” he said. “I’m in the best shape of my career, which makes the timing of this bout perfect.”
“I’ve travelled the world to get ready for this fight, training in Florida, returning to Belfast, and then arriving in Dubai two weeks ago to acclimatise to the conditions. My training plan has been meticulous, covering everything from sleep patterns to nutrition, while avoiding external distractions and focusing solely on the fight.”
Keeping his opinion about Nurmagomedov as classy as it could be, Hughes said: “My rival is an exceptional athlete, which makes this challenge even greater. However, my confidence is strong, and I’m ready to step into the cage and secure a victory. You should never underestimate your opponent – something my rival might learn the hard way next week.
“Since joining the Professional Fighters League, I’ve never hesitated to face the toughest competitors. This fight is crucial not only for me but also for promoting this event on a global scale,” the “Pride of Dagestan” added.
The undercard will feature Dubai-based Uzbek fighter, the undefeated Mirafzal Akhtamov (7-0-1), who has an impressive six finishes in his career, taking on England’s knockout specialist, Mike Thompson (7-2), with five of his seven victories coming in knockout forms. In addition, Saudi Arabia’s Mostafa Nada (9-3) riding a five-fight win streak, will face the British-Pakistani PFL debutant Haider Khan (8-1) who has won his last four bouts.
Saturday’s card is the inaugural “Road to Dubai” event following the signing of a groundbreaking multi-year partnership between the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai Sports Council (DSC), and the PFL.
The first-of-its-kind partnership will see MMA world champions and the sport’s biggest stars from the PFL compete in title fights as Dubai becomes a marquee destination for the best of MMA. All other Champions Series events will now be co-branded as “Road to Dubai”, as each show culminates in the finale set in the new fight capital.
The event will feature 11 bouts with the participation of 22 fighters from 13 countries, including the UAE, Russia, Ireland, the USA, Brazil, England, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the Philippines. The card begins at 7:30pm.