The PFL has announced the signing of Hattan Alsaif, who now becomes the first female fighter to sign with a globally recognized MMA promotion.
The PFL issued the following press release on the signing:
HATTAN ALSAIF MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST-EVER WOMAN FROM THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA TO SIGN WITH MAJOR GLOBAL MMA PROMOTION
JANUARY 30, 2024 PFL PRESS
PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE SIGNS THE 22-YEAR-OLD TO EXCLUSIVE,
MULTI-FIGHT CONTRACT
NEW YORK (January 30, 2024) - The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest-growing and most innovative sports league, today announced the historic signing of Hattan Alsaif to an exclusive, multi-fight contract. Alsaif becomes the first woman from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to sign a contract with a global MMA promotion.
Alsaif, is a 22-year-old gold medal winner at the 2023 International Federation of Muay Thai Associations World Championships, an event in which she was awarded “Breakthrough Female Athlete.” Continuing her success, Alsaif took first place at the World Combat Games and at the Saudi Games; she anticipated making her amateur MMA debut for the PFL in 2024.
“Receiving a contract from the PFL is a dream come true,” said Alsaif. “As the first Saudi woman signed to a global MMA contract I do not take the responsibility lightly, and I am committed to representing my country. I hope to pave the way for aspiring female fighters. I am thankful to God and the PFL for this incredible opportunity.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Hattan Alsaif, a truly groundbreaking athlete to the PFL,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations of PFL. “In collaboration with our partner, SRJ Sports, PFL is dedicated to discovering exceptional fighters like Alsaif and championing the cause of women in MMA in the region. Our goal is to provide them with a global platform to showcase their skill sets.”
Hattan Alsaif will train predominantly with PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions competitor Abdullah Al-Qahtani. The signing of Alsaif bolsters a roster that will have opportunities to compete in PFL MENA, PFL’s second regional league outside of the United States. The disruptive model will provide top fighters from across the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to earn their way to the PFL Global Roster..
PFL is the only organization in MMA with a sports-season format, where individual fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship each year. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator boasts 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their respective weight class, the same percentage as UFC. PFL has an expansive global vision for the sport and is building the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more international leagues in development. PFL leads in technology and innovation, with its proprietary PFL SmartCage, powering fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL is primetime on ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S. and is broadcast and streamed in 150 countries with 20 premium media distribution partners.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league worldwide. PFL has five live fight franchises, offering year-round content: PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and Bellator. Founded in 2018, PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SRJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sports business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.
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