RIYADH: When Saudi Arabia’s Mostafa Nada steps inside the PFL SmartCage in the main event of Professional Fighters League MENA 2 on July 12, he will have the support of a home country crowd behind him as he faces Algeria’s Abdel Rahmane Driai in a welterweight showcase main event.
It will not be Nada’s first trip into the SmartCage, as he is looking to build off the momentum of his first-round win against Korey Kuppe from last season.
While he will be the favorite, Nada admits that competing at home is going to be a different experience altogether.
“This fight will be different for me because it’ll be in my home country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but I’m ready for all the opportunities that I can get,” Nada said. “This fight in Saudi puts pressure on me in a different way because all eyes will be on me including my family, friends, and fans.”
While there is not a lot at stake compared to some of the night’s other fights, Nada is looking to prove himself and hopefully get a shot at next season’s PFL MENA tournament.
“I want to prove myself, and I pray for success, that I may be able to implement my game plan and what I trained for to achieve victory.”
Against Driai, Nada will be facing a bonafide finisher who has recorded eight of nine wins by way of stoppage.
Nada however, is confident in his own abilities.
“I’ve kept an eye on my opponent, I’ve studied him well. He has a strong wrestling game, and he has a dangerous right hand. He’s knocked out many of his opponents, but he won’t be able to do that to me,” he confidently claimed. “I’ve watched all his fights and I’ve learned his style. I can confidently say that his fight with me will be very different from all his other fights.
“I know my skills and my abilities, and I know that I can compete with the best fighters in the world,” Nada continued.
Nada is on a four-fight winning streak of his own, and will look to extend that in Riyadh on July 12.