At the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Saudi mixed martial artist Malik Waleed Basahel stepped into the cage to face Uzbekistan's Firdavs Atamuratov in the men's Modern MMA under-60 kg quarterfinals. The contest went into overtime before Atamuratov secured a unanimous decision victory. Although Basahel's campaign ended without a medal, his appearance came during a historic edition of the Games, as mixed martial arts made its debut as an Asian Games medal sport.
For the 24-year-old fighter from Jeddah, known as "The Storm," the appearance added another international milestone to a career that already includes World Championship silver, Asian Championship gold, Saudi Games gold, and an undefeated 4–0 professional record with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Discovering Martial Arts at Fourteen
Born on November 15, 2001, Malik Basahel began training in martial arts at the age of fourteen. His introduction came through his father, who enrolled him at Arena, a gym in Jeddah offering Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai classes.
"It was the first time I had trained in martial arts, and after weeks, I fell in love with the sport"
He soon began competing in jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai while exploring other combat disciplines. What attracted him to mixed martial arts was the opportunity to combine different techniques in a competitive environment.
"I ended up focusing on mixed martial arts because I loved the competitive aspect of it, and I also loved the art behind the violence in this sport"
For Basahel, MMA became more than physical competition. He was interested in understanding new techniques, applying them during training, and developing the ability to respond to different opponents.
Training Beyond Saudi Arabia
As his ambitions grew, Malik Basahel began gaining experience outside Saudi Arabia. His development included competing on the British amateur MMA circuit and training with Asylum Vale Tudo in Leeds, England. The experience introduced him to different fighting styles and competitive environments. It also helped him build a foundation in both striking and grappling, two important aspects of professional mixed martial arts.
By February 2024, Basahel had recorded 17 victories across 20 amateur fights, including 12 wins by stoppage. His record reflected years of preparation and success against opponents from different backgrounds.
Major Achievements and Competitive Milestones
Malik Basahel's competitive journey has progressed from national tournaments to international championships and professional MMA events. His achievements reflect a steady development from promising amateur fighter to an established competitor on the regional professional circuit.
November 2023 — Silver at the IMMAF World Championships
One of Malik Basahel's most important achievements came at the 2023 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships in Tirana, Albania. Representing Saudi Arabia in the senior men's flyweight division, he advanced through the competition to reach the final. His campaign included victories over international opponents before he faced Tajikistan's Loyg Akramov in the championship bout.
Basahel lost the final by judges' decision, securing the silver medal in the under-56.7 kg category. The result was particularly meaningful because it came during his first international appearance with the Saudi national team. Following the championship, he expressed appreciation for the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation's support during his training and preparation. His silver medal established him among the notable Saudi competitors on the international amateur MMA circuit.
December 2023 — Gold at the Saudi Games
Shortly after returning from the World Championships, Malik Basahel competed at the 2023 Saudi Games in Riyadh. He won the MMA gold medal after defeating his opponents in the national competition. The victory gave him his second major medal within approximately one month, following his silver medal in Albania.
The Saudi Games provided Basahel with an opportunity to compete on home soil while demonstrating the experience he had gained internationally. His victory also highlighted the growing role of domestic sporting competitions in developing Saudi combat-sports athletes.
December 2023 — Asian Championship Gold in Bahrain
Malik Basahel's successful year continued at the IMMAF Asian Championships, held in Bahrain from December 10 to 16, 2023. He began his campaign with an armbar submission victory over Iran's Mohammadali Hosseini before defeating Uzbekistan's Firdavs Khaitmatov by unanimous decision.
In the final, he faced India's Mahboob Khan Mohammed. Basahel secured the gold medal through a second-round rear-naked choke submission, becoming the Asian champion in the senior flyweight division. The title completed an impressive period in which he earned three major medals across world, national, and continental competitions within a matter of weeks.
2024 — Gaining Experience on the PFL Stage
In 2024, Basahel began appearing on major PFL fight cards while continuing to compete as an amateur. His first appearance came on February 24 at the PFL vs. Bellator event, where he defeated Brazilian fighter Vinicius Pereira by unanimous decision. He followed that performance with another unanimous decision victory over India's Harsh Pandya at PFL MENA in May. In September, he defeated Saher Qasmieh, recording his third amateur victory under the PFL banner that year.
Malik Basahel also returned to the IMMAF World Championships in Uzbekistan in November 2024. He defeated Kazakhstan's Nurlan Tleumbetov by technical knockout before losing a split decision to American fighter Rudolph Johnson III. These appearances gave him additional experience against international opponents and helped prepare him for the transition to professional MMA.
2025 — Making His Professional MMA Debut
After building an amateur record of 21 wins, three losses, and one draw, Malik Basahel officially entered professional mixed martial arts on May 9, 2025. His debut took place at PFL MENA in Jeddah against Algeria's Mountassir Boutouta. Basahel secured victory by technical knockout in the second round, opening his professional career with a stoppage win in his hometown. He returned to the cage on September 27, facing Egypt's Ahmed Mostafa. This time, Basahel demonstrated his submission skills, winning by rear-naked choke in the second round.
On December 5, he faced another Egyptian opponent, Mahmoud Atef, at the PFL MENA 2025 Finals. Basahel finished the fight by technical knockout in the first round, ending his debut professional year with three consecutive victories.
July 2026 — Extending His Undefeated PFL Record
Malik Basahel continued his professional career on July 10, 2026, at PFL MENA in Riyadh, where he faced Morocco's Imad El Azami. Unlike his previous three professional contests, which ended through stoppages, this fight lasted the full three rounds. Basahel demonstrated his grappling abilities throughout the encounter and secured a unanimous decision victory. Two judges scored the fight 30–27, while the third scored it 29–28. The victory extended his professional record to 4–0, comprising two technical knockouts, one submission, and one decision victory. It also demonstrated his ability to maintain his performance across a full professional contest.
September 2026 — Representing Saudi Arabia at the Asian Games
Another international appearance followed at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where mixed martial arts was included as a medal sport for the first time. Malik Basahel represented Saudi Arabia in the men's Modern MMA under-60 kg division. On September 20, he faced Uzbekistan's Firdavs Atamuratov in the quarterfinals at Nagoya City Inae Sports Center. The contest went into overtime before Atamuratov won by unanimous decision. The Uzbek fighter subsequently advanced to the final and secured the silver medal.
Although Basahel did not reach the podium, his quarterfinal appearance marked an important addition to his international career. He competed at one of Asia's largest multisport events during a significant moment for the development of MMA across the continent. The result was separate from his professional PFL career, where his undefeated 4–0 record remained intact.
The Discipline Behind Malik Basahel's Career
One of the defining characteristics of Basahel's journey is his strong personal connection to mixed martial arts.
"There isn't much for me to think about outside of fighting, because that's the only thing I really want to be excited about in terms of putting in hours and continuing to work"
His interests outside competition include drumming and video games, but fighting remains his main professional focus. That commitment has shaped his development from a teenage martial arts student to an international competitor. His experience across jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and MMA has given him opportunities to develop different technical abilities while working toward higher levels of competition.
Malik Basahel and the Future of Saudi Mixed Martial Arts
Malik Basahel's journey from a martial arts gym in Jeddah to international championships and professional MMA reflects years of consistent training and competitive experience. His World Championship silver, Asian Championship gold, Saudi Games title, and undefeated professional record demonstrate the progress he has made since beginning the sport at fourteen.
As mixed martial arts develops in the Kingdom, Malik Basahel is among the Saudi fighters building their careers through national representation and professional competition. His achievements show young athletes that progress comes from developing their skills, gaining experience, and maintaining the commitment needed to compete at higher levels.
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