Saudi Arabia's Hattan Alsaif Signs Historic Contract with PFL Ahead of 2024 Debut

The Professional Fighters League made a historic signing on Tuesday.

Per ESPN's Marc Raimondi, PFL has completed a deal with 22-year-old Saudi Arabian-born fighter Hattan Alsaif, making her the first female athlete from the country to sign with a major MMA promotion.

Alsaif has yet to compete in MMA, so her amateur debut will come in PFL. Raimondi noted that the Muay Thai practitioner "potentially" will have her first fight before the end of 2024.

"Receiving a contract from the PFL is a dream come true for me," Alsaif said in a statement. "Being the first female MMA fighter from Saudi Arabia to be signed by a major global organization like PFL is a true honor. I won't take this responsibility lightly, and I am committed to doing my best to represent my country. I hope this paves the way for more opportunities for aspiring female fighters."

Alsaif is a decorated Muay Thai competitor. She won a gold medal at the 2023 International Federation of Muay Thai Associations World Championships, becoming the first Saudi Arabian athlete to do so when she was victorious in the under-45-kilograms category. She also took home first place at the World Combat Games and the Saudi Games last year.

"With Alsaif's remarkable achievements in martial arts, she has undeniably earned her place in the PFL, and we believe she will pave the way for many more talented female fighters in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East," PFL president of fighter operations Ray Sefo said in a statement.

The next event on the PFL calendar will be a marquee pay-per-view dubbed PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions on Feb. 24 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.