DUBAI: Bahraini flyweight Hamad Marhoon is just days away from the biggest fight of his young professional career, something of which he is very aware.
The 22-year-old KHK MMA Team product will face Jordan’s Saher Qasmieh (2-0) on the preliminary card of PFL MENA 9: Pride of Arabia, due to be held on May 24 at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena.
The event marks the PFL MENA 2026 season opener and brings together fighters from 11 nations across the region. For Marhoon, who submitted Oualid Gounaine by guillotine choke in the first round of his December 2025 pro debut, it is his first fight in front of a Dubai crowd and a chance to build on an opening act that took fewer than two minutes to wrap up.
“Representing Bahrain on a global platform like PFL means a lot more to me than just stepping into the cage and fighting,” Marhoon said. “Every time I compete, I feel that I’m carrying the dreams, ambitions, and pride of an entire nation on my shoulders. I’m not fighting only for myself, I’m fighting for everyone back home who believes in me, supports me, and wants to see Bahraini athletes succeed on the world stage. That responsibility motivates me every single day and pushes me to work even harder.”
He enters this camp with more on his mind than just his record. Marhoon comes into the flyweight showcase bout with a background stretching well beyond one pro win. He is a three-time national MMA champion in Bahrain, a 2021 IMMAF World Championship bronze medalist, a Saudi Arabia Combat Sambo champion, and a two-time ADCC Kuwait title holder. He also claimed gold at the 2022 Khalid Bin Hamad MMA Open Championships. That amateur resume put him on the PFL MENA radar before he ever turned professional.
This preparation cycle, he says, has been less about adding volume and more about sharpening how he thinks inside the cage. He said: “This training camp was different for me in many ways. We focused heavily on being smarter inside the cage, especially during sparring sessions and fight preparation. It wasn’t only about physical intensity this time, it was about making better decisions, improving my fight IQ, and understanding how to control different situations during the fight. I truly believe that intelligence and discipline will make the biggest difference in this matchup.”
His opponent, Qasmieh, is unbeaten across two professional fights, with both wins coming by first-round guillotine choke submission. He comes from a Wushu Sanda background and has competed in regional Arab and Jordanian combat sports championships.
Marhoon does not dismiss that: “My opponent is a good fighter and I respect his abilities, especially his grappling,” he said. “He has strong points, but like every fighter, he also has weaknesses, and we’ve been studying those carefully throughout camp. We have our strategy, and we’re prepared for different scenarios inside the cage. At this level, details matter, and we’re ready to take advantage of every opportunity.”
Part of Marhoon’s perspective comes from watching what came before him in Bahrain. Hamza Kooheji, also on the May 24 card, is set to face Morocco’s Taha Bendaoud in a featherweight tournament quarterfinal. Kooheji built his name through BRAVE CF, rising to the top of the regional bantamweight rankings and becoming the most visible Bahraini fighter in MMA.
Marhoon said: “One of the biggest influences on my journey has been Hamza Kooheji. His experience, mindset, and achievements inspired me a lot growing up. Watching his journey motivated me to believe that fighters from Bahrain and the region can compete internationally and succeed at the highest levels.”
Marhoon does not want a one-dimensional career; he wants to be a problem everywhere. He added: “My main goal in this sport is to become a complete mixed martial artist. I don’t want to be known for only one skill or one area of fighting. I want to feel comfortable everywhere, striking, grappling, wrestling, on the ground, against the cage, everywhere. That’s why every camp is focused on improving all aspects of my game and continuing to evolve as a fighter.”
He also sees the PFL MENA platform itself as something significant beyond his own trajectory.
“Honestly, the level of competition in PFL is very strong,” he said. “What makes it even more exciting is seeing Arab fighters from different countries, backgrounds, and fighting styles proving themselves on such a major stage. Every fighter comes with something different, and that’s what makes the competition so tough and interesting. PFL is becoming a huge platform for talent in the region.”
Come May 24, he expects the Coca-Cola Arena crowd to see something different than the fighter who debuted last December.
“Fans are definitely going to see a different version of me in this fight. I believe every fight should show growth, maturity, and evolution. I’m entering this matchup with more confidence, more freedom, and a stronger mindset than before. I always look to finish fights when the opportunity is there, but at the same time, fighting smart and staying composed is extremely important at this level,” he concluded.
PFL MENA 9: Pride of Arabia takes place Sunday, May 24, 2026 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN and the PFL App, with regional coverage on Starzplay.
