francis Ngannou‍ has addressed his ⁣absence from the inaugural‍ PFL Africa event, revealing his dissatisfaction with the card’s overall ‍quality. His signing with ⁤the Professional Fighters League (PFL) was a important acquisition for the promotion in 2023, yet Ngannou has only competed once under the PFL banner‍ – a first-round knockout victory over ‍Renan Ferreira last October.

Ngannou’s involvement was initially touted as key to expanding the PFL’s reach into Africa. However, his no-show at ⁤PFL Africa ⁣drew criticism from⁤ PFL founder Donn ⁣Davis, who publicly expressed his disappointment. Ngannou has now responded, explaining his decision stemmed from a belief that the event didn’t live up to the standard he envisioned.

Ngannou Felt PFL Africa⁢ Was Presented as an “Undercard”

Appearing on the Ariel ⁢Helwani Show,Ngannou stated he was uncomfortable with Davis’s public comments and felt the context of his absence was already known. He emphasized his two-year investment in the concept of PFL Africa and his expectation for a more impactful debut event.

“I wasn’t very okay with the first ⁤PFL Africa⁤ event⁤ seeming to be ⁢like an undercard,” Ngannou explained. “We worked‍ a⁤ lot for⁢ that, PFL ⁢Africa, but I hoped PFL Africa’s‍ debut would ‍have at least have its glory, its moment. But that wasn’t my decision and I wasn’t down for it. I expressed my feelings to them.”

The PFL Africa card featured notable fighters⁣ including⁢ Bellator champion Johnny Eblen, Dakota Ditcheva, ⁢AJ McKee, and Corey ⁢Anderson.

Calls for Division Restructuring

The situation has sparked further debate, ‍with veteran MMA referee john McCarthy suggesting the PFL should consider cutting Ngannou’s‍ division altogether, arguing that his presence isn’t currently benefiting the promotion.