MMA – BAHRAINI mixed martial artist Hamad Marhoon is looking to have himself a big night when he steps inside the SmartCage at PFL Mena Semi-finals: Champions Collide at The Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
Marhoon will make his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut against undefeated Algerian Ibrahim Chelabi in a showcase flyweight contest.
For Marhoon, who is an experienced amateur MMA fighter with national championships under his belt, getting to make his pro debut on a stage as big as PFL Mena is a gigantic opportunity.
“Taking part in the PFL Mena semi-finals is nothing short of a historic opportunity for me, for Bahrain, and for every aspiring fighter in our region,” he said.
“This is a chance to represent my country and prove that Bahraini fighters belong at the very highest levels of MMA.”
Most of Marhoon’s MMA experience has come from competing in International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) events, and to prepare for his professional debut, Marhoon has pulled out all the stops to ensure that he leaves Riyadh with the historic win.
“My preparation has been intense and all-encompassing,” he detailed. “Over the past months I have trained with world-class professionals, sharpening every tool I have, from wrestling and grappling to striking and endurance.
“I’ve pushed myself through technical drills, sparring sessions, and conditioning programmes designed to prepare me for any scenario inside the cage.”
Marhoon is also fully aware that he’ll be dealing with someone who’s undefeated and more experienced, and he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“Facing Algeria’s Ibrahim Chelabi, an undefeated fighter with a one hundred percent finishing rate, is the kind of challenge that excites me and motivates me to show the very best version of myself,” Marhoon revealed.
While Marhoon does have a wealth of MMA experience in the amateur ranks, the professional level is a different beast altogether. To make sure that he can compete at the highest level, Marhoon says that he’s dedicated himself to a certain level of commitment.
“The cornerstone of success is commitment,” Marhoon said. “Even on the hardest days, when the body is sore and the mind is tired, I show up and I put in the work. That daily discipline has shaped me not just as a fighter, but as a person.”
Marhoon adds that he’s also taken an approach that’s similar to many high-level professional athletes, and that’s staying off social media.
“To maintain my focus, I deliberately keep myself away from the noise of social media – I don’t want distractions, I want clarity,” he revealed.
Without a doubt, Marhoon has had success in his amateur MMA career, and he credits that success to a specific mindset. Now, he’s banking on that same philosophy to help him reach the same levels of success in the professional ranks.
“My philosophy can be summed up in three words: hard work, discipline, and belief,” he said. “Those values have carried me through 24 amateur fights, through national championships, and to the IMMAF podium.
“Now they are carrying me into my professional debut on one of the biggest stages in the region.”
At the end of the day, Marhoon understands just how massive this upcoming opportunity is, and he’s looking to make the most of it.
“This fight in Riyadh is not just another match – it is the beginning of a new chapter, and I intend to seize it with everything I have,” he said.
“For Bahrain and for myself, I am ready to make history.”
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