Malik Basahel has built his name on the amateur scene since debuting as an 18-year-old in 2020. The Saudi Arabian-born Basahel, who fights out of Leeds, England, went 11-1 with eight finishes in 2023. Basahel, a 2023 IMMAF silver medalist who has won three amateur flyweight titles, fought at the PFL vs. Bellator card on February 24, scoring a unanimous decision over Vinicius Pereira.

 

Harsh Pandya began his amaetur MMA career in 2023, debuting in March with a second-round verbal submission of Mohammed Zubair. Pandya then competed in the GAMMA 2023 Championships in December, earning a bronze medal. Pandya submitted Brooklyn Lafuente and earned a decision over Gonzalo Montealegre before falling to Yernaz Mussabek in the semifinals.

 

Which of these prospects will make an impression and score a victory in the inaugural bout for PFL MENA?

 

 

Round 1

 

Padnya throws a high kick that doesn’t land, but he then pushes Basahel toward the fence. Pandya rolls and gets to Basahel’s back on the ground. Pandya trying to get hooks in as he has a body triangle. Basahel reverses the position and gets back to his feet. Basahel looks for a guillotine, but Pandya gets out of it. Now it’s Basahel who gets to Pandya’s back.

 

Basahel looks to get the rear-naked choke in, but Pandya is defending the hands well. Pandya warned for his toes being in the fence. Basahel gets off his back, and Pandya returns to the feet with more pressing. Basahel easily stuffs him and throws a head kick when the two return to their feet. Basahel with more takedown defense, getting behind Pandya. The two jockey for position on the fence before the bell.

 

 

Round 2

 

Pandya presses forward and misses a high kick. High kick by Basahel. Basahel avoids a takedown attempt from Pandya and scores one of his own. Pandya gets quickly back to his feet, and it’s another jockeying for position between the two. Basahel gets a body lock, but when he tries to bring Pandya down, Pandya is the one who lands on top. Basahel throws up his legs before getting back to his feet.

 

Basahel with a strong punch to the body. Basahel grabs one of Pandya’s kicks and brings him back to the fence. Basahel scored another takedown and got to Pandya’s back in a standing backpack position. Basahel gets off Pandya’s back and brings the fight back to the feet in the closing seconds. Basahel lands a one-two before the bell.

 

 

Round 3

 

One-two from Pandya before Basahel gets a body lock. A battle for grappling control ensues against the PFL SmartCage. Pandya presses Basahel against the fence and looks for a trip. Basahel with a knee to the body. The referee calls for action. Pandya now takes Basahel’s back in a standing backpack. Pandya gets Basahel down in a body triangle as he looks for a choke.

 

 

Basahel does a good job of fighting off Pandya’s hands, as the referee calls for more work again. Pandya tries to use his legs to control Basahel’s, as Basahel is trying to roll through and get on top. The referee calls for more action with about 20 seconds left in the fight. The fight ends with Pandya controlling Basahel’s back.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Malik “The Storm” Basahel defeats Harsh Pandya by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) in an amateur flyweight bout