These days, Omar El Dafrawy walks around carrying the swagger befitting a champion, and rightfully so.
The Egyptian Welterweight has been nothing short of impressive since joining the PFL, debuting as a competitor in last year’s inaugural PFL MENA season, where he tore through the likes of Anthony Zeidan, Jarrah Al-Selawe, and Mohammad Alaqraa to capture the league’s welterweight strap. This season, El Dafrawy returned to the PFL MENA SmartCage and showed off just why he’s the champion, dominating Daniele Micelli by first-round submission in the main event of PFL MENA 2 last July.
Now, El Dafrawy takes his talents to the global stage, as he gets ready to compete against PFL Europe champion Florim Zendeli at PFL Champions series: Road to Dubai – The rematch on Friday, October 3 at The Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
With all the success that El Dafrawy is enjoying, he couldn’t help but look back at the fight that he considers a turning point in his career, even before joining the PFL.
“Ever since my victory over Abdullah Boushehri, I have felt like a new fighter,” says El Dafrawy. “That bout was more than just a win — it was a defining moment that allowed me to completely rebuild my confidence after going through a series of setbacks.”
In January of 2024, El Dafrawy stopped Boushehri with a knee in the first round of the UAE Warriors 47 card in Abu Dhabi. Prior to that fight, he went 3-4 in his last seven bouts, including a brutal four-fight losing streak.
About six months after his win over Bousheri, El Dafrawy made his PFL MENA debut, and the rest was history.
“From that night onward, I knew without a doubt that I could finish any opponent put in front of me,” he said.
With another big opportunity in front of him, El Dafrawy looks to make yet another mark.
“Now, as I prepare to face Europe’s champion Florim Zendeli, I see this as another crucial step on my path to global recognition,” he exclaimed.
With October’s PFL Champions Series card being headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov versus Paul Hughes, the biggest rematch in the league’s history, being on the card is a massive opportunity for El Dafrawy to showcase his talents on a global stage and he aims to use this chance to inspire the next generation of Middle Eastern fighters.
“I want to inspire a new generation of Arab fighters to believe in themselves and to know that the Arab world can produce champions who stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best in MMA,” El Dafrawy stated.
But to do that, El Dafrawy also plans to realize his goal of becoming the best in the world.
“My ambition is not hidden: I want to reach number one in the world rankings at welterweight. It is a massive goal, but every sacrifice I have made and every drop of sweat in the gym brings me closer.”
“This fight in Dubai is not only about proving myself against a tough opponent — it is about showing that Arab fighters are ready for the global stage,” he added.
PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch takes place on Friday, October 3 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ticket information and broadcast details will be announced soon.
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