logo
Patrice Evra's debut postponed as PFL cancels Paris event

Patrice Evra's debut postponed as PFL cancels Paris event

USA Today08-05-2025
Patrice Evra's debut postponed as PFL cancels Paris event
Soccer legend Patrice Evra's MMA debut will have to wait.
On Thursday, PFL announced its Paris event scheduled for May 23 at Accor Arena has been canceled. No reason for the cancellation was given, nor was a reschedule date.
"PFL Europe Paris on 23 May has been rescheduled and a new date will be announced soon," PFL said in a statement. "All fans who have purchased tickets will receive a full refund."
Evra, 43, signed with PFL in April. Though his debut date was announced as the Paris event, no opponent was ever selected.
The card was expected to be headlined by a lightweight bout between Mansour Barnaoui and Archie Colgan and also feature 2025 PFL Europe tournament quarterfinal bouts. It's unclear where the fighters will now land.
France has been a strong market for PFL in the past, with fighters like Cedric Doumbe and Abdoul Abdouraguimov selling out Accor Arena.
PFL is set to hold two events this week with PFL MENA set for Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and PFL Europe set for Saturday in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Francis Ngannou explains PFL Africa absence, responds to Donn Davis' criticism
Francis Ngannou explains PFL Africa absence, responds to Donn Davis' criticism

USA Today

time15 hours ago

  • USA Today

Francis Ngannou explains PFL Africa absence, responds to Donn Davis' criticism

Francis Ngannou wasn't happy with how the first PFL Africa-branded event was presented, so he decided to stay home. The event took place July 19 at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa, featuring a total of 14 fights. However, the way the promotion broke down the event, it split the undercard with PFL Africa branding, while the main card was labeled as PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. The main event of the card was a middleweight title fight between Johnny Eblen and Costello van Steenis. With all of the work Ngannou put in behind the scenes as the region's chairman, he was hoping the first PFL Africa event would have been the main focus. Since it wasn't, Ngannou decided not to attend, which drew public criticism from PFL CEO Donn Davis, who said he was "disappointed" with his absence. "As far as my reaction, I don't think it was something he should have bring out there," Ngannou said Monday on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "At least if it was me, I wouldn't keep it out there. Now it gets in the position that we have to bring up context, like why didn't I come there. He didn't know why I didn't come. I've been waiting for this for two years, and this was the big part of it: So, when you're still working on something, unless you think it's off, it's not a thing that you bring it outside. I wasn't OK with something, but I wasn't the one that was going to take it out (publicly). "For example, if you want to know what exactly is the reason I wasn't there, I wasn't very OK with the first PFL Africa event seeming to be like an undercard. ... That wasn't my decision, and I wasn't down for it, but I expressed my feelings to them." The July 19 event featured some of PFL's biggest names, including A.J. McKee and Dakota Ditcheva. However, Ngannou felt the focus should have been on the African fighters so that the spotlight could have been shone on them, rather than being on essentially an undercard. According to Ngannou, constant conversations with Peter Murray and other PFL executives involved a different vision for the start of PFL Africa. Ngannou clarified that he rarely communicates with Davis. Ngannou did not attend the second PFL Africa event on Aug. 9, which was more like what he had in mind for the first. Although he enjoyed some of the fights he saw, the totality of the event still wasn't what he had envisioned. "Matter of circumstances, and again, we were still working on it," Ngannou said, explaining his absence from the second event. "This is not the only event. PFL Africa is something that is made to be run forever. So, as we take the time that it takes to set things up right, then the company will run properly. So, I don't have any problem with that. I don't have any problem with going, as long as we get things right and feel comfortable. Because I'm going there, stepping forward, putting myself in line as a guarantee. So,at least I'm going to make sure I'm going to stand by what I'm saying."

2025 PFL finals: Make predictions for 185, 205\u00a0and\u00a0heavyweights in\u00a0Florida
2025 PFL finals: Make predictions for 185, 205\u00a0and\u00a0heavyweights in\u00a0Florida

USA Today

time18 hours ago

  • USA Today

2025 PFL finals: Make predictions for 185, 205\u00a0and\u00a0heavyweights in\u00a0Florida

We want your predictions for Thursday's PFL middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight finals in Florida. Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we'll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT). Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of Thursday's last set of 2025 PFL finals (ESPN/ESPN+), which take place at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Make your picks below. Oleg Popov vs. Alexandr Romanov Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Sullivan Cauley Fabian Edwards vs. Dalton Rosta 2025 PFL World Tournament 10: Finals lineup (ESPN/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store