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At 27, Salah Eddine Hamli is unbeaten. Nine fights, nine wins. At six feet tall (1.83m) and 155 pounds (70kg), he moves with a quiet confidence that belies the fire he brings inside the cage. On Saturday, September 27, in Riyadh, he faces Algeria’s Souhil Tairi (8-6-1) in the PFL MENA Lightweight semi-finals. One win and he is a step from the title. Fans can get their tickets from WeBook or catch the action live for free in the MENA region on STARZPLAY.
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“Yes, I am feeling good. I am training hard, and the camp is going very well. I’m anxious, but my goal is to win the fight. I have a very good opponent from Algeria, he is a very experienced fighter, so let’s go, let’s do this,” he says.
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Moroccan MMA, he believes, is on the rise. “Right now, MMA in Morocco is at a very good level. We’re improving every year, and the standard keeps rising. I believe that in the next two or three years, Morocco will be among the top two or three countries in MMA.”
Hamli’s sights are global. “My goal right now is to win the PFL MENA tournament, of course. Next year, we’ll see – maybe go to the PFL World Global Tournament or take fights to raise my ranking in the PFL, Inshallah. I want to be the best fighter in the world, beat the best fighters in the world, and be the best. This is my first goal — to be the best.”
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His opponent, Tairi, is no stranger to success. “He’s a very good fighter. An experimental fighter. He beat the former champion, Mohsen (Mohammadseifi). And that was one good fight. I’m really excited for this matchup because I believe it’s going to be a great fight – maybe even the fight of the night. Let’s go, I can’t wait to get in the cage and smash.”
Preparation, he says, sets him apart. “I train so hard every day. I’ve sacrificed a lot and I believe Allah will pay me for this, Inshallah.” His prediction is bold: “Insha’Allah, I’ll finish in the first round. I’ve had 4 or 5 fights that ended in the first round, but my last three didn’t. I believe this one will end in the first round, insha’Allah.”
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The fight also marks a career milestone. “It’s a big step in my career because this is my first international fight and with such a huge global organisation. All my previous fights were in Spain, so competing abroad and so close to home means a lot to me. It’s a big step that has helped me grow a lot, and it’s a very good opportunity for my career.”
