Ahmed Makki, considered a pioneer in Saudi MMA, will be hanging up the gloves after this fight tonight. Makki, who originally turned pro in 2014, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and a social media influencer, having over 500,000 Instagram followers. Maaki last fought in 2018, scoring a submission victory over Mohammed Doghani.
Hasham Elnamer is a former National Muay Thai champion. Nicknamed “The Tiger of Egypt”, Elmaner has scored finishes in all three of his fights so far. He hasn’t fought in professional MMA since 2018, however, where he scored a first-round submission of Mohamed Yasser Shehata.
Will Makki get to go out on a high note? Or will Elnamer play spoiler in his own MMA return?
Round 1
The two touch gloves in the center. Elnamer flashes a high kick. Makki does that with a low kick. Elnamer switches stance. Elnamer flashes the left jab. Low kicks flashed from Makki. The two feeling each other out here. Front kick from Elnamer. A couple of left hands from Elnamer. Elnamer sticking on the outside. Low kick from Makki. Left hand from Elnamer is blocked. One-two flashed by Elnamer. Ref asks for more action. Makki with a leg kick. Makki with a jab. Both flash the left hand. Elnamer moves away; he’s trying to keep distance from Makki’s power. Both men with a low kick. Quick jab from Elnamer. Leg kick from each man.
A couple of right hands missed by Elnamer, but he lands a low kick. Leg kick by Makki. Elnamer presses Makki into the fence. Makki reverses the position. Makki trying for the takedown. Knee and a left hand by Elnamer. Makki looking for the takedown, and he gets it. Elnamer with body shots from the bottom. Makki with a left hand. Makki warned to do something. Elnamer with a scramble to get back up. Both men throw strikes, but nothing’s landing too hard. Elnamer with a kick up the middle. Right hand from Elnamer. Makki with a kick. Elnamer flashes a question-mark kick. High kick doesn’t land for Elnamer. Three-punch combination from Elnamer before the bell. The referee warns both men at the end of the round that there needs to be more engagement.
Round 2
High kick flashed by Elnamer. Low kick from Makki. Body kick from Elnamer. Jab from Elnamer. Small combinations from Elnamer. Right front kick from Makki. Elbow from Elnamer. Elnamer misses a spinning back kick. Makki presses Elnamer into the fence. Front kick by Elnamer. Low kick and a left hand from Elnamer. Makki with a right hand. Makki presses him back to the fence, but not before eating a couple of knees. Makki scores the takedown.
Makki in side control, landing punches where he can. Makki trying to create distance. Elnamer scrambles after Makki tries to take his back. Elnamer comes forward, but Makki counters and scores another takedown. Makki gets into full mount. Makki looks to return to side control, but Elnamer gets back to his feet. Elbow by Elnamer. A couple of kicks from Elnamer. Low kick from Makki. Right hand from Elnamer. Left hand and a kick from Elnamer. Side kick from Elnamer. High kick missed by Elnamer. Elnamer with a hook kick and a head kick. Makki presses him into the fence once more. Makki looks for another takedown, and he gets it. Makki controlling the arm in side control before the bell.
Round 3
Tornado spinning kick by Elnamer to start things off – though it doesn’t land. Makki misses a spinning backfist. Makki throws a back kick but doesn’t get it. Low kick from Makki. And again. Combination misses for Elnamer, and he eats a backfist. Elnamer comes forward, but Maki gets on top of him and quickly gets to his back. Makki threatening a choke. Makki looking to get the hooks in, but Elnamer escapes the position. Makki now in half-guard. Left hands from Makki. Makki goes for a heel hook, and it’s a tap! Elnamer looks at the ref as if he didn’t? Seconds later, however, he embraces Makki.
Makki gets to go out in his hometown with a submission victory!
OFFICIAL RESULT
Ahmed Makki defeats Hasham Elnamer by 3rd round submission (heel hook/ankle lock, 2:03) in a lightweight showcase bout
Makki ends his professional MMA career with a 2-3-1 record, with both his wins coming by submission
This was Makki’s final professional MMA fight. He’s a BJJ black belt who was considered a Saudi MMA pioneer
