Al Qahtani: I will show world Saudi fighting skills

Used to competing outside his homeland, Abdullah Al Qahtani plans on relishing home advantage when he fights this weekend on Saudi Arabia’s momentous MMA debut.

What’s more, the Riyadh-born athlete is predicting that fans in attendance, or those tuning in from afar, are in for a treat.

“Inshallah, they’re going to see something very good, something very excellent … and something crazy,” Al Qahtani tells The National in the Saudi capital as he puts the finishing touches to his prep. “And be ready.”

Evidently, Al Qahtani feels more than ready. Of course, the 7-1 pro record helps buttress belief. The Saudi citizen signed last year with the Professional Fighters League and promptly marked his arrival last June with a firstround submission win against Lamar Brown, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Two months later, Al Qahtani took a unanimous decision against David Zelner, at the venerated Madison Square Garden in New York.

But, on Saturday, the featherweight will contest a threeround bout with India’s Edukondala Rao in Riyadh, in what is already shaping up to be one of the standout MMA cards of 2024.

“PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions”, taking place at Kingdom Arena, marks not only Saudi’s big bow in elite-level MMA but the PFL’s inaugural blended event since acquiring fellow promotion Bellator in November.

“Now, all the eyes are on Saudi Arabia and on MMA. And now PFL has come, they are pushing for me to become the best,” said Al Qahtani. “Everyone knows me; they know what I do in my fights. All my other fights are big and crazy. No one can explain what I do in the fight. I want to put on a show … and show the world how good Saudi fighters are.”