Mohammad Yahya: The Emirati MMA Fighter Who Reached the UFC

Introduction

Mohammad Yahya is an Emirati professional mixed martial arts fighter known as “The UAE Warrior.” He became famous for making history as the first fighter from the United Arab Emirates to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, commonly called the UFC.

Before entering the UFC, Yahya built his name in regional mixed martial arts. He became a UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight champion and recorded several important victories in the promotion.

As of August 2026, Mohammad Yahya competes in the featherweight division of PFL MENA. His official PFL record lists 12 professional wins and seven losses. His move to PFL opened a new stage in his career after three appearances in the UFC.

Mohammad Yahya Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Mohammad Yahya
Alternative spelling	Mohammed Yahya
Nickname	The UAE Warrior
Date of birth	23 May 1994
Age	32 years old as of August 2026
Nationality	Emirati
Profession	Professional mixed martial artist
Current promotion	PFL MENA
Current division	Featherweight
Professional record	12 wins and 7 losses
Former promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Major achievement	First Emirati fighter in UFC history
Regional title	UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight champion

The UFC commonly spells his first name Mohammad, while the official PFL profile uses Mohammed. Both versions refer to the same Emirati fighter.

Who Is Mohammad Yahya?

Mohammad Yahya is one of the best-known mixed martial artists from the United Arab Emirates.

He represents the UAE in professional combat sports and has competed in major events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. His career has included regional championship fights, UFC appearances and a PFL MENA tournament bout.

He is mainly known for three achievements:

1. Becoming the UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight champion.
2. Becoming the first Emirati fighter signed by the UFC.
3. Continuing his international career through PFL MENA.

His journey is important because few Emirati athletes had reached a major global MMA promotion before him.

Other UAE athletes have also represented the country on major sporting stages. Readers can explore Khalid Eisa’s career with Al Ain and the UAE to learn how another Emirati sportsman built a long international career.

Mohammad Yahya’s Age and Nationality

Mohammad Yahya was born on 23 May 1994.

He is 32 years old as of August 2026. He is from the United Arab Emirates and fights out of the UAE.

The official PFL profile lists him at approximately five feet nine inches tall. He currently competes as a featherweight, a division with an upper weight limit of around 145 pounds in most major MMA promotions.

How Mohammad Yahya Started MMA

Yahya did not begin his martial arts journey as a professional cage fighter.

He first trained in kung fu at a local dojo. He later expanded his skills by learning kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other parts of mixed martial arts.

Modern MMA requires athletes to combine several fighting styles. A fighter may need striking skills while standing, wrestling skills for takedowns and grappling skills on the ground.

Yahya trained at TK MMA Fit in Dubai, where he worked with international coaches and training partners. He told The National that the growth of gyms and combat-sports events in the UAE had created more opportunities for young fighters than were available when he started.

Rise Through UAE Warriors

UAE Warriors played an important role in Mohammad Yahya’s rise.

The Abu Dhabi-based promotion allowed him to face regional and international opponents while developing his professional record.

Official UAE Warriors records show that he won seven of his eight appearances in the organisation. His victories included knockouts, submissions and decisions, showing that he could win fights in different ways.

Some of his recorded UAE Warriors results include:

• A first-round knockout against Glen Ranillo in October 2019.
• A second-round knockout against Ramadan Noaman in January 2020.
• A second-round submission against Dan Collins in November 2020.
• A unanimous-decision victory against Azouz Anwar in January 2021.
• A knockout victory against Yazid Chouchane in September 2021.
• A fifth-round submission against Moha Jaghdal in March 2022.
• A unanimous-decision win over Souhil Tairi in February 2023.

The UAE Warriors profile identifies him as an Arabia lightweight champion. His regional success helped him earn an opportunity with the UFC.

Becoming the First Emirati UFC Fighter

Mohammad Yahya made sporting history when he became the first Emirati athlete signed by the UFC.

The UFC is one of the most widely recognised mixed martial arts organisations in the world. Reaching its roster gave Yahya the chance to represent the UAE before an international audience.

He made his UFC debut against Trevor Peek at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on 21 October 2023.

Yahya completed all three rounds, but Peek won the fight by unanimous decision. Despite the defeat, Yahya’s appearance remained a historic moment for Emirati MMA because no UAE national had competed in the organisation before him.

UFC Fight Against Kauê Fernandes

Yahya returned to the Octagon on 3 August 2024 at a UFC event in Abu Dhabi.

He faced Brazilian fighter Kauê Fernandes in a lightweight contest. Fernandes attacked Yahya’s legs with powerful kicks and won by technical knockout late in the first round.

The result gave Yahya his second UFC defeat, but he continued training for another opportunity.

Final UFC Appearance Against Steven Nguyen

Mohammad Yahya’s third UFC appearance came against American fighter Steven Nguyen on 26 July 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

The bout took place in the featherweight division. Nguyen started strongly and knocked Yahya down several times.

Yahya continued fighting and showed signs of recovery during the second round. However, swelling around his eye caused the contest to be stopped before the third round. Nguyen received a technical-knockout victory at the end of round two.

Yahya later confirmed that he recovered and returned to training. His UFC contract ended after three fights, closing the first chapter of his career in the organisation.

Why Did Mohammad Yahya Leave the UFC?

Mohammad Yahya left the UFC after completing a three-fight run without recording a victory.

He lost to Trevor Peek by decision, Kauê Fernandes by technical knockout and Steven Nguyen by technical knockout.

His departure did not mean the end of his professional career. Yahya later signed with PFL and entered its Middle East and North Africa competition.

The move allowed him to remain active at an international level while competing closer to his home audience in the UAE.

Mohammad Yahya Joins PFL MENA

In February 2026, it was reported that Yahya had signed a three-fight agreement with the Professional Fighters League.

PFL MENA gives fighters from the Middle East and North Africa an opportunity to compete in a tournament format. Yahya entered the 2026 featherweight competition hoping to rebuild his momentum and challenge for a regional title.

His move was officially promoted ahead of the PFL MENA season opener at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

Readers can view his current statistics and fight information through the official PFL fighter profile.

PFL Debut Against Mehdi Saadi

Mohammad Yahya made his PFL debut against Tunisian fighter Mehdi Saadi on 24 May 2026.

The featherweight quarterfinal served as the main event of PFL MENA: Dubai – Pride of Arabia at Coca-Cola Arena.

Both fighters completed three rounds. Saadi used calf kicks and combinations, while Yahya answered with punches, knees and pressure.

The judges delivered a split decision. Two judges scored the contest for Saadi, while one scored it for Yahya. Saadi won with scores of 30–27, 27–30 and 29–28.

The result moved Yahya’s professional record to 12 wins and seven losses.

Mohammad Yahya’s Current Status

As of August 2026, Mohammad Yahya is listed as a PFL featherweight representing the United Arab Emirates.

His official career record is:

• 12 professional wins
• Seven professional losses
• Seven victories by knockout or technical knockout
• Two victories by submission
• Three victories by decision

His PFL debut ended in defeat, but the fight was decided by a close split decision rather than a stoppage. No later professional bout had been added to his official PFL profile by August 2026.

Fighting Style

Mohammad Yahya is a mixed martial artist with experience in striking and grappling.

His career results show that knockout victories form the largest part of his win record. Seven of his 12 professional wins have come through knockout or technical knockout.

He has also earned two submission victories, including a fifth-round win over Moha Jaghdal in a UAE Warriors title contest.

This record shows that Yahya can attack while standing and finish opponents on the ground.

His professional experience includes both lightweight and featherweight bouts. Moving between divisions can require changes in training, nutrition and weight management.

Why Mohammad Yahya Is Important to UAE Sport

Mohammad Yahya’s importance is not based only on his wins and losses.

He opened a new path for Emirati fighters by reaching the UFC. His appearance showed young athletes in the UAE that it was possible to move from local training centres to one of the largest MMA stages in the world.

The UAE has become an important location for international combat sports. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have hosted UFC, UAE Warriors, PFL and major jiu-jitsu events.

Yahya developed during this period of growth and became one of the country’s most visible MMA representatives.

Emirati athletes are also gaining attention in other international sports. Amna Al Qubaisi’s motorsport journey provides another example of a UAE competitor entering a demanding global sport.

Is Mohammad Yahya Still in the UFC?

No. Mohammad Yahya is no longer listed as an active UFC fighter.

He completed three UFC bouts between October 2023 and July 2025. He later signed with PFL and made his PFL MENA debut in May 2026.

What Is Mohammad Yahya’s MMA Record?

As of August 2026, Mohammad Yahya’s official professional MMA record is 12 wins and seven losses.

His record includes seven knockout or technical-knockout wins, two submission wins and three decision wins.

Did Mohammad Yahya Win a UFC Fight?

No. Mohammad Yahya competed three times in the UFC but did not record a victory.

He lost one fight by unanimous decision and two by technical knockout. His place in UFC history remains important because he was the first Emirati athlete to compete in the promotion.

Did Mohammad Yahya Win a Championship?

Yes. Mohammad Yahya became a UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight champion.

The official UAE Warriors record shows successful championship performances against Yazid Chouchane, Moha Jaghdal and Souhil Tairi.

What Is Mohammad Yahya’s Nickname?

His fighting nickname is “The UAE Warrior.”

The nickname reflects his nationality and his role as an international representative of Emirati mixed martial arts.

Conclusion

Mohammad Yahya is an Emirati professional MMA fighter who made history as the first UAE national to compete in the UFC.

He developed his career through regional promotions, became a UAE Warriors Arabia lightweight champion and entered the UFC in 2023.

Although he did not earn a UFC victory, his three appearances created an important milestone for combat sports in the Emirates.

Yahya began a new stage of his career by joining PFL MENA in 2026. He lost a close split decision to Mehdi Saadi during his PFL debut, bringing his professional record to 12 wins and seven losses.

His journey has included championships, international events, difficult defeats and career changes. Most importantly, it has shown that an Emirati fighter can move from local martial arts training to major global MMA competitions.