Ngannou's no-shows at PFL Africa events leave fans and officials disappointed
Image: Suuplied
African MMA fans were left outraged and puzzled by the absence of heavyweight superstar Francis Ngannou at both recent PFL Africa events in South Africa.
The PFL announced the launch of PFL Africa last year as part of its global expansion plan, generating huge excitement within the continent's combat sport communities. The promotion is ranked among the top two MMA organisations in the world, and Ngannou — a former UFC heavyweight champion — was confirmed as an equity owner and chairman of the African branch.
PFL Africa aims to showcase the continent's top talent, with champions earning a pathway to the PFL Global season. The project was inspired in part by Ngannou's own extraordinary journey, which saw him endure hardship and danger while travelling across Africa and Europe before finding success in professional MMA.
Following the inaugural PFL Africa event in Cape Town, PFL founder Donn Davis addressed Ngannou's absence when questioned by Independent Media.
'You'll have to ask Francis that,' Davis said.
'I am disappointed that he is not here; this was part of his vision, and we are here because of him. I expected him to be here. PFL Africa is here so that all those fighters out there don't have to leave the continent like he did.
'We worked for two years on this together, for this moment tonight, to help realise this vision. I would have loved him to be here… I am disappointed that he is not here,' Davis added.
The Cape Town show featured bantamweights and heavyweights competing for a place in the PFL Africa 2025 tournament finals later this year.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
This past weekend, at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City, featherweights and welterweights took centre stage in front of a sold-out crowd. Stars such as Nigeria's Patrick Ocheme and Angola's Shido Boris Esperança impressed, but fans were again left disappointed by Ngannou's absence.
Ngannou signed a two-fight deal with the PFL after leaving the UFC, committing to MMA bouts exclusively in the PFL's PPV Super Fight Division alongside fellow stars Jake Paul and Kayla Harrison. He made his debut in the division last year, stopping Brazil's Renan Ferreira in Saudi Arabia.
His contract also allows him to compete in other combat sports. Ngannou has previously boxed against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and is reportedly pursuing further big-money bouts.
Boxing promoter and Saudi General Entertainment Authority chief Turki Alalshikh is exploring match-ups for Ngannou, including a possible clash with Deontay Wilder and even a bout with recently retired UFC legend Jon Jones.
Independent Media has reached out to Ngannou for comment, but the Cameroonian fighter has yet to respond. He recently posted images of himself doing boxing drills with coach Dewey Cooper, further fuelling speculation about his next move.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
COMMENT: Defend take downs, shoot your own, the right game plan for Du Plessis.
Stillknocks Dricus du Plessis is set to defend his UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16. Photo: Saeed Khan / AFP THE mentality in the camp of South Africa's MMA star and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis is largely based on challenging Khamzat Chimaev in his own strengths, wrestling and grappling, ahead of UFC 319 in Chicago this coming weekend. Du Plessis' camp believes that Chimaev is yet to meet an opponent who shows no fear for his highly praised wrestling and grappling abilities. The South Africans believe that the key to success is beating the Chechen-born fighter on the ground, forcing him to take the fight on the feet, where Du Plessis' strengths lie in the match-up. Time and again, specialist fighters have been mentally broken down in the octagon when they meet with a fighter who shows no fear, adequate resistance and skill. Earlier this year, former light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira met a determined Magomed Ankalaev in a championship bout, and the difference between Ankalaev and any of Pereira's opponents was that the Russian had no fear for his striking. When Perreira realised little success on the feet, an area he usually dominates in the octagon, he was visibly defeated, and from then on, it was Ankalaev's fight to win, and the Russian eventually won the bout. Du Plessis' title defence this week exudes the same energy; stuff Chimaev's takedowns, shoot for your own takedowns and break Chimaev physically and mentally.
IOL News
14 hours ago
- IOL News
Ngannou's no-shows at PFL Africa events leave fans and officials disappointed
Francis Ngannou has yet to explain his absence from PFL Africa's first two events despite serving as the promotion's chairman. Photo: PFL Image: Suuplied African MMA fans were left outraged and puzzled by the absence of heavyweight superstar Francis Ngannou at both recent PFL Africa events in South Africa. The PFL announced the launch of PFL Africa last year as part of its global expansion plan, generating huge excitement within the continent's combat sport communities. The promotion is ranked among the top two MMA organisations in the world, and Ngannou — a former UFC heavyweight champion — was confirmed as an equity owner and chairman of the African branch. PFL Africa aims to showcase the continent's top talent, with champions earning a pathway to the PFL Global season. The project was inspired in part by Ngannou's own extraordinary journey, which saw him endure hardship and danger while travelling across Africa and Europe before finding success in professional MMA. Following the inaugural PFL Africa event in Cape Town, PFL founder Donn Davis addressed Ngannou's absence when questioned by Independent Media. 'You'll have to ask Francis that,' Davis said. 'I am disappointed that he is not here; this was part of his vision, and we are here because of him. I expected him to be here. PFL Africa is here so that all those fighters out there don't have to leave the continent like he did. 'We worked for two years on this together, for this moment tonight, to help realise this vision. I would have loved him to be here… I am disappointed that he is not here,' Davis added. The Cape Town show featured bantamweights and heavyweights competing for a place in the PFL Africa 2025 tournament finals later this year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ This past weekend, at the Big Top Arena in Carnival City, featherweights and welterweights took centre stage in front of a sold-out crowd. Stars such as Nigeria's Patrick Ocheme and Angola's Shido Boris Esperança impressed, but fans were again left disappointed by Ngannou's absence. Ngannou signed a two-fight deal with the PFL after leaving the UFC, committing to MMA bouts exclusively in the PFL's PPV Super Fight Division alongside fellow stars Jake Paul and Kayla Harrison. He made his debut in the division last year, stopping Brazil's Renan Ferreira in Saudi Arabia. His contract also allows him to compete in other combat sports. Ngannou has previously boxed against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua and is reportedly pursuing further big-money bouts. Boxing promoter and Saudi General Entertainment Authority chief Turki Alalshikh is exploring match-ups for Ngannou, including a possible clash with Deontay Wilder and even a bout with recently retired UFC legend Jon Jones. Independent Media has reached out to Ngannou for comment, but the Cameroonian fighter has yet to respond. He recently posted images of himself doing boxing drills with coach Dewey Cooper, further fuelling speculation about his next move.
The South African
16 hours ago
- The South African
Springboks, Dricus: What time to watch these stars in action?
The Springboks are back in action this Saturday as they tackle Australia in their Rugby Championship opener, but many sports fans will also be just as interested in Dricus du Plessis' UFC title defence. Du Plessis (23-2) has in fact not lost since October 2018, and will attempt to knock Khamzat Chimaev from the ranks of the unbeaten as he returns to the Octagon in what will be his third fight in defence of his UFC middleweight belt. Due to the time difference, the main card is scheduled to start from 04:00 (SA time) this Sunday morning, but the exact time will also be determined by the length of the preliminary fights prior to the Du Plessis-Chimaev bout. For those wanting to get up early for this fight, it does mean they might need to take it a little easy during the braais and 'watch parties' that will undoubtedly be taking place around South Africa for the Springboks-Wallabies clash. That Rugby Championship encounter will kick off at 17:10 at Ellis Park, while it also can't be forgotten that this will be followed later in the night by the battle between the All Blacks and Argentina in Córdoba (23:10 kick off time in SA). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse. UFC 319: DU PLESSIS VS. CHIMAEV – MAIN CARD – Main event: Middleweight Championship: Dricus du Plessis v Khamzat Chimaev – Featherweight: Lerone Murphy v Aaron Pico – Welterweight: Geoff Neal v Carlos Prates – Middleweight: Jared Cannonier v Michael Page – Flyweight: Tim Elliott v Kai Asakura
