Rachid El Hazoume comes out on top in high-paced action to move on to championship

Making his pro debut back in 2012, Elias Boudegzdame won four of his first five fights as competed on the regional scene in his native France. Boudegzdame ended up claiming regional featherweight gold before going on to lose that championship to PFL star Bubba Jenkins. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Boudegzdame has finishes in 18 of his 19 victories, including a submission of Hassan Mandouri at the inaugural PFL MENA event.

Rachid El Hazoume has found success in specific disciplines, winning the 2015 K-1 Spain Championship in kickboxing and the 2017 NAGA European Championship in grappling. El Hazoume, who made his MMA debut in 2011, is a Syndicate MMA product who has finishes in nine of his 14 victories. El Hazoume most recently fought at PFL MENA 1 in May, submitting Xavier Alaoui.

Who will claim the first spot in the inaugural PFL MENA bantamweight championship contest?

Round 1

El Hazoume already firing off a strong combination. El Hazoume with a quick takedown, getting right into control in half-guard. El Hazoume with a couple of solid right hands, and Boudegzdame appears to already be cut. El Hazoume looking to either sweep or lock up a submission. El Hazoume looks to transition out of half-guard. Boudegzdame sits up against the fence, but El Hazoume is all over him. Boudegzdame stands back up, but El Hazoume lands a one-two on the get-up. Boudegzdame with a strong hook. Strong hooks for El Hazoume. El Hazoume with another takedown, landing back in half-guard.

El Hazoume with a couple of right hands to the body. Boudegzdame sits up against the fence again. Boudegzdame gets back up to his feet and separates. Another strong combination from El Hazoume. Boudegzdame with a combination of his own. El Hazoume clinches and presses Boudegzdame into the fence. El Hazoume with a knee on the break. Boudegzdame with a strong hook. Strong combination from El Hazoume. Boudegzdame looks for a takedown and he gets into top control. El Hazoume is bleeding now! El Hazoume gets his legs up for an armbar attempt, but Boudegzdame avoids it. El Hazoume works his way back into control. El Hazoume looking for a choke it seems. El Hazoume looking to lock up the guillotine in the round’s closing seconds, but Boudegzdame avoids it and gets back to his feet. Boudegzdame lands a kick to the body before the bell.

Round 2

Low kick from El Hazoume. One-two from Boudegzdame. Another takedown from El Hazoume. Boudegzdame looks for butterfly guard. Boudegzdame looks for rubber guard. El Hazoume sits up, however. The two get back to the feet. Low kick from El Hazoume. High kick from El Hazoume, but Boudegzdame lands a right hand. El Hazoume pressures and scores a single-leg takedown. El Hazoume looking for position as he pressures. Boudegzdame landing from the bottom. The referee calls for more action. El Hazoume working from half guard. Boudegzdame is able to return to the feet. Knee from El Hazoume. Front kick from El Hazoume. Both men land outside punches.

Boudegzdame jumps and looks for a guillotine! El Hazoume escapes it, and now he gets on top. Left hand from El Hazoume. The referee calling for action from up top. El Hazoume looking for a head-and-arm choke. Another call for action from the referee. El Hazoume lands knees from the body. El Hazoume looks for a choke again. El Hazoume with a little bit of ground-and-pound. The referee calls for more action again as he tries to get into mount. The referee stands the two up with 30 seconds left. The two trading against the fence. Boudegzdame jumps and gets a choke again! El Hazoume manages to survive the closing seconds!

Round 3

Both men throw hooks to start. Low kick and a punch from El Hazoume. Another low kick from El Hazoume. One-two from Boudegzdame. Front kick from El Hazoume, but Boudegzdame presses against the fence. A knee and a kick from El Hazoume. Another takedown from Boudegzdame as he looks for a submission, but he at least stays on top. El Hazoume locks up his guard, trying to prevent Boudegzdame from working. A takedown from Boudegzdame. El Hazoume looking for a guillotine, but Boudegzdame works his way into side control. El Hazoume looking to roll onto his knees. Boudegzdame keeping pressure and controlling El Hazoume. Boudegzdame looked for a calf slicer, but El Hazoume defends it and gets back up. El Hazoume looks for the arm and head. The two struggling for takedown control.

Boudegzdame briefly takes El Hazoume down, but El Hazoume quickly gets back up. Front kick from El Hazoume. One-two from El Hazoume. El Hazoume looks for a takedown, but Boudegzdame prevents it. Low kick from El Hazoume. Boudegzdame with another takedown attempt. Uppercut from El Hazoume. A couple of right hands from Boudegzdame. Front kicks from both men. El Hazoume with a combination. Right hand from Boudegzdame. Right hand from Boudegzdame again. Counter right hand from El Hazoume. One-two from El Hazoume. Front kick from El Hazoume. Knee to the body by El Hazoume. Low kick from El Hazoume. Another right hand from Boudegzdame. Boudegzdame tries for another takedown, but El Hazoume defends it.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Rachid El Hazoume defeats Elias Boudegzdame by unanimous decision (29-28 x 3) in a PFL MENA Bantamweight Semifinal bout to advance to the 2024 PFL MENA Championship. He will face the winner of the Bantamweight Semifinal bout between Ali Taleb and Jalal Al Daaja, which takes place later on today's fight card.