Mohsen Mohammadseifi survives near-finish scare, gets nod in competitive outing to reach championship match

Since turning pro in 2016 after a lone amateur bout, Souhil Taïri has competed throughout several promotions in Europe and Asia, previously challenging for a noteworthy regional lightweight MMA title. Taïri has scored six of his victories via a finish, four of which have come in the first round. He fought at PFL MENA 2 in July, scoring a decision over Ahmed Amir.

Though Mohsen Mohammadseifi dropped his first two pro bouts, he has since won five in a row entering tonight. Mohammadseifi has four first-round finishes, including a 43-second win to start the winning streak back in 2021. Mohammadseifi fought at PFL MENA 2 as well, scoring a first-round finish of Josh Togo.

Who will go on to compete for the PFL MENA lightweight championship against Georges Eid?

Round 1

Low kick from Mohammadseifi. Taïri answers back with his own. Another low kick from Mohammadseifi. Another low kick from Taïri. Left jab from Taïri. Kick to the body from Taïri. Mohammadseifi misses a spinning back kick. Low kick from Mohammadseifi. Low kick and a right hand from Mohammadseifi. Right hand from Mohammadseifi. Taïri answers back, but Mohammadseifi throws Taïri down! Taïri scrambles back up to his feet quickly! Mohammadseifi with a punch to the body. One-two from Mohammadseifi. Low kick from Taïri. Spinning backfist connects for Mohammadseifi. Front kick from Taïri. Low kick from Mohammadseifi. Left hand from Taïri. Low kick from Taïri. One-two from Mohammadseifi, and Taïri is sent on the back foot!

Right hand from Taïri. Taïri misses an overhand left, and he eats a strong left from Mohammadseifi! Taïri goes to the ground, but Mohammadseifi brings him back up to the feet. One-two again from Mohammadseifi. Left hand by Mohammadseifi. Front kick from Taïri. High kick from Taïri, low kick from Mohammadseifi to counter. Right hand and a round kick from Mohammadseifi. The two battle against the fence, and Mohammadseifi is warned for grabbing the cage. Right hands from each man. Mohammadseifi lands another big right. Mohammadseifi misses a huge right with Taïri against the fence. Taïrimisses a big right. Front kick from Taïri. One-two from Mohammadseifi again. Left hand from Taïri. Round kick by Taïri.

Round 2

Low kick from Mohammadseifi. High kick from Mohammadseifi partially lands. Left hand from Mohammadseifi, but Taïri with a kick to the body. Mohammadseifi landing a couple of more kicks. Left hand from Taïri. Right hand from Mohammadseifi. A couple of low kicks from Mohammadseifi. Left hand from Taïri. Combination from Mohammadseifi lands. Strong right hand from Taïri, but Mohammadseifi lands a strong counter to rock him a bit. Taïri goes for a takedown, but Mohammadseifi easily shoves him off. Left hand from Mohammadseifi. Mohammadseifi counter connects. Low kick and a round kick from Mohammadseifi, who is laying into Taïri against the fence!

Left hand and a low kick from Mohammadseifi. Right hand from Mohammadseifi. Low kick from Mohammadseifi. Right hand from Mohammadseifi. Left hand from Taïri. Punch to the body by Mohammadseifi. Taïri tries to come forward but doesn’t land much. Taïri grabs a leg, but Mohammadseifi shoves him off. Lead hand shot from Mohammadseifi. Mohammadseifi with a combination, but Taïri lands a knee. Both guys exchanging in the center. Strong right hand from Mohammadseifi, and it backs Taïri up! Mohammadseifi with another combination. Front kick by Taïri. Low kick from Taïri. Low kick by Mohammadseifi. Taïri misses a spinning backfist. One-two from Taïri. Combination by Mohammadseifi. Combination from Taïri! The two exchanging. Taïri rocks Mohammadseifi with a knee to the body, who falls to a knee! Taïri landing at will, but the bell sounds! Mohammadseifi may have been saved there!

Round 3

Both men landing jabs. One-two from Mohammadseifi. One-two from Taïri. Right hand from Seifi. Both men landing combinations! Mohammadseifi shoots in and gets the takedown! Taïri nearly grabs a choke though! Right hand from Mohammadseifi. Round kick from Mohammadseifi. More exchanging in the center. Mohammadseifi scores a takedown, but he doesn’t go down with him. Low kick from Mohammadseifi. Mohammadseifi shoots in and gets another takedown. Taïri goes for a guillotine and a leg kick, but Mohammadseifi avoids those and the fight returns to the feet again. Taïri using his length. Both men fatigued here.

Combination from Mohammadseifi. Left hand by Taïri. Combination ending with a round kick from Taïri. A couple of kicks to the body from Taïri. Combination from Mohammadseifi. Head kick and a front kick from Taïri. Left hands from both men. Low kick from Taïri. Round kick to the body from Taïri. Mohammadseifi with an overhand right and he dumps Taïri again. Right hand to the body from Mohammadseifi. Round kick by Mohammadseifi. A couple of right hands from Mohammadseifi. A low kick from Taïri. Taïri looks for a takedown, but Mohammadseifi denies it. Mohammadseifi lands one more right hand before the bell. What a fight!

OFFICIAL RESULT

Mohsen "Golden Boy" Mohammadseifi defeats Souhil Taïri by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) in a PFL Lightweight Semifinal bout to advance to the 2024 PFL MENA Championship. He will face Georges Eid in the Lightweight Final.