Mohammad Alaqraa: I’m the Best Fighter in the Middle East, and PFL MENA Is Going to Prove That

Undefeated prospects collide!

Kuwait’s Mohammad Alaqraa, a Judo Black Belt, has dominated all his 5 pro opponents. Training under the legendary Javier Mendez at AKA, he’s a formidable force ready to conquer.

Advertisement

Algeria’s Youcef Ouabbas part of the new MMA generation, brings a… pic.twitter.com/UJrgxaBGMm

— PFL MENA (@PFLMENA) June 3, 2024

Mohammad Alaqraa is determined to make himself a household name and next Friday, he’ll have the platform of Professional Fighters League and the opportunity to do so.

Training out of American Kickboxing Academy under the tutelage of longtime AKA head coach Javier Mendez and former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Alaqraa carries a 5-0 record into his promotional debut against Youcef Ouabbas at PFL MENA next Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alaqraa has some observers predicting him to be the next great AKA fighter after Nurmagomedov and current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, comparisons he doesn’t take lightly.

“It’s a big honor to have those talks about me,” Alaqraa told Sherdog.com. “It’s been a long road. I went to AKA in 2017 and when I was 18 years old, they used to throw me in the cage with Islam and Khabib and be like, ‘try to survive,’ and he wanted to see how tough I am, how hard I can go with these guys, even though he knew I could not compete at that time.”

Those rough training days at a young age provided not only learning lessons as a fighter but also a mentality that Alaqraa believes puts him on a different level ahead of his PFL debut. This mentality has led him to believe he’s the best fighter in the Middle East, with his next fight offering the perfect proving ground.

“Actually, that was the best thing he’s done to me,” Alaqraa said. “I do believe right now I am in a different position. I’m in a different level mentally, physically, and with the skills, I do believe I’m one of the best in the world, in the future, and the best in the Middle East, PFL MENA is going to prove that.”

Learning from one of the greatest fighters in MMA history in Nurmagomedov, Alaqraa has seen the growth within himself. That growth is something he has seen the former UFC champion pass down to those after him, especially the mental training.

“I’ve been in this system since 2017, I found martial arts at AKA when Khabib was a fighter. I believe Khabib took this mentality from his coaches and his father, and passed it down to us, the new generation. He pushed us mentally to get above the limit.”

Getting above the limit included grappling with no time limits and being pushed at a young age inside the training room. The physical draining was always going to be there, but Alaqraa credits the focus of mentality and having his mind right as one of the most important training aspects.

“I do believe this is good because going into the cage, I don’t care how skilled you are, it’s all about mental. Mental game is number one in this game, the stronger you are mentally, the closer you are to the win.”

Having trained at a world-renowned gym since he was 17 years old, Alaqraa does not spare a thought for what might have been if he had not ended up at AKA. “AKA is my life, I don’t know who I would be if I didn’t go to AKA,” he said” . I don’t see the person I could be if I chose not to go to AKA. AKA changed Mohammed from a new guy to a guy with ambition, with big goals to achieve.”

That confidence he’s been given through his coaches is what he has seen within himself at a young age, and now, in just his sixth professional fight, he plans to capitalize on his biggest opportunity.

“This thing they [coaches] have been seeing in me, I’ve been seeing it since I was 12, 13, 14, I used to be little guy, skinny guy, but I wanted to be world champion.

I wanted to be something that people after years are going to remember and right now, PFL MENA is the dream. This is my goal, this is what I want to do. On social media, I always say I’m the best in the Middle East, but right now I’m going to prove to everyone I’m the best in the Middle East and everyone is going to see that.”

Despite all the confidence he has, Alaqraa is not overlooking the undefeated Ouabbas. “I do respect my opponent. One time my coach told me ‘Never take any fight easy. Every fight take it as this is your last fight.’ so I do take my opponent seriously. Right now I’m training harder because I’m the guy who should win this fight, you’re going to have fun watching me, I promise you that.”

Entering PFL MENA, Alaqraa sees the talent pool that Professional Fighters League has amassed and understands what it would mean for him to emerge as the top fighter in his weight class. “It shows I’m the best in the Middle East,” he said. “This bracket of fighters, I do believe they’re the best in the Middle East. When you win against these guys, you’re going to earn your respect, earn your name, and earn your glory you get after that. PFL has highlighted us and given us the platform, given us the opportunity to shine.”

In order to show that he’s the best, he plans to unlock the new version of himself, and after two consecutive decision victories, he’s planning for a finish. “I’m going to finish him, I’m going to find the finish. I don’t regret them but my last two fights were decisions but I learned a lot from them. I’m going with ‘Mo 2.0’ I’m going for the finish.

There has been plenty of praise sent the way of Mohammad Alaqraa and with all eyes on him entering his PFL debut, he plans to put on for the Middle East, for his team, and to cement himself as one of the best.