Ali Taleb brought out a vicious performance that ended in a quick knockout to capture the first-ever PFL MENA bantamweight championship in Saudi Arabia.
After a bit of kick-heavy attacks from his opponent, Rachid El Hazoume, Taleb stunned him with a one-two, namely from an uppercut, before launching a flurry that ended with him dropping the Moroccan with a right hand.
The fight came to a close with just 85 seconds on the clock.
Taleb reached the finals at today’s PFL World Championship with wins over Nawras Abzakh and Jalal Al Daja. He competed in the inaugural PFL Europe season last year, falling short against Khurshed Kakhorov in the semifinals.
El Hazoume, meanwhile, entered the fight with seven wins in his last eight fights, including over Xavier Alaoui and Elias Boudegzdame to reach the 135-pound final.
After the four PFL MENA titles are handed, 12 fighters will compete for PFL Global glory on the main card at Riyadh’s King Saud University.