Mohammad Alaqraa credits Dagestan, Dubai training for PFL MENA semifinals edge

• Dagestan is renowned for producing elite mixed martial artists, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, cousins Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and many others.

Last year, Kuwaiti welterweight Mohammad Alaqraa came just one victory shy of claiming the inaugural PFL MENA Welterweight Championship. An undefeated fighter and training partner of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alaqraa excelled throughout the tournament, securing a place in the Finals against Egyptian contender Omar El Dafrawy.

Alaqraa’s undefeated streak, however, came to an end at the hands of El Dafrawy, who went on to become the inaugural PFL MENA Welterweight Champion.

This season, Alaqraa is determined to return to the top, pulling out all the stops—including traveling to Dagestan, Russia, to sharpen his skills.

“The training camp in Dagestan gave me a massive boost. I focused heavily on conditioning and endurance at high altitude, then completed my preparations in Dubai,” said Alaqraa.

Dagestan, of course, is renowned for producing elite mixed martial artists, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, cousins Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and many others.

“That mix of environments pushed me beyond my limits and made me sharper than ever before,” added Alaqraa.

This Saturday at PFL MENA SEMIFINALS: CHAMPIONS COLLIDE, Alaqraa has a chance to return to the Finals when he faces Egyptian fighter Ayman Galal. Before this crucial bout, however, Alaqraa reflected on his maiden PFL MENA campaign, calling it a valuable learning experience.

“My last appearance in the tournament taught me tough lessons. In MMA, even the smallest mistakes can decide a fight, and I’ve learned a great deal from those moments. This time, I’ve corrected those errors and feel more prepared than at any stage in my career,” he shared.

“The loss to Omar El-Dafrawy in the final last season wasn’t a setback—it was a turning point. It didn’t break me; it made me stronger and far more experienced. That defeat helped me evolve into a completely different fighter,” added the man known as “The Maestro.”

Now, Alaqraa is ready to seize another opportunity at PFL MENA gold. “I studied Galal’s fighting style closely, but every fight has its surprises. What matters is imposing your will inside the cage, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

PFL MENA SEMIFINALS: CHAMPIONS COLLIDE will be held on September 27 at The Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Watch the action LIVE on Starzplay in the MENA Region and on the PFL App in the United States. Tickets are available now on WeBook.

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