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Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Francis Ngannou explains his criticisms of PFL Africa launch, responds to Donn Davis
PFL's long-discussed debut trip to Africa turned out to be a success in July, showcasing some of the promotion's top talents like Dakota Ditcheva and Johnny Eblen. However, PFL Africa ambassador and heavyweight superstar Francis Ngannou was noticeably missing from the arena come fight night. PFL founder Donn Davis expressed his disappointment with Ngannou's absence following the conclusion of the launch event. Davis claimed not to know why the Cameroonian puncher didn't attend the event, which bothered Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion explained this week to Uncrowned exactly what led to his decision to not attend the first two Africa shows he pushed PFL to create. "I don't think it was something [Davis] should have brought out there [to tell people], right?" Ngannou said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "At least if it was me, I wouldn't put it out there now, because he gets in the position where we have to bring up context [of] why didn't I come there. He did know why I didn't come. I've been waiting on this for two years — this was a big part of it. ... I wasn't OK with something, but I wasn't the one that was going to [put it] out [into the public conversation]. "If you want to know what exactly is the reason why I wasn't there, I wasn't very OK with the first PFL Africa event seeming to be like an undercard," Ngannou continued. "Quoting [Davis], we worked a lot for that, for [the launch of] PFL Africa. I hoped the PFL Africa debut would have at least had its glory, its moment. That wasn't my decision. I wasn't down for it, but I expressed my feelings to them." The keys to the proverbial castle in PFL were essentially handed to Ngannou upon his arrival to the promotion in 2023. Along with his high-value contract, the signing came with a role in spearheading PFL Africa as a sub-promotion under the overall PFL umbrella. But Ngannou believes his vision wasn't necessarily met — he hoped the launch of PFL Africa would ideally consist exclusively of African talent. "This is what it's about," Ngannou said. "You talk about something for two years, you expect this glorious moment, and I couldn't explain [to people why the card turned out how it did] if I had been there. It looks like I had been in a very bad position to explain how the PFL Africa I've been talking about has become an undercard. So, on that perspective, I'm not facing this. That was the main reason. "What was worse for me was I have seen some people talking about it, but they didn't even realize Aug. 9 was the second [PFL Africa] event." Despite holding down a lucrative spot on the PFL roster for more than two years, Ngannou has only fought once for the promotion, when he made his debut this past October with a first-round stoppage of 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner Renan Ferreira. As part of his deal, Ngannou has been allowed to fight freely in big-money boxing matches against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua during the period. Ngannou said he hasn't had any formal discussions with PFL officials regarding a potential return to the cage in 2025, but has prodded them via email recently. He's under the impression PFL does not have a suitable opponent for him at the moment and hasn't spoken to Davis since their recent disagreements. The relationship between PFL and Ngannou appeared to be in a good place until Davis' comments. From Ngannou's perspective, things are still fine between both parties; it's just a matter of understanding where each is coming from going forward. "So far, I would say we've had a good relationship," Ngannou said. "We have two businesses together. One is PFL Africa, and then one is me as a fighter and PFL as a promoter. But again, everything doesn't always run smooth. It wasn't like, 'OK, this is not working.' This just works like, 'Oh, I don't agree with this. I think it should be like this,' and somebody gives his own point of view. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't work out. "Personally I don't think we are in that point, as you can see, 'Oh, we have a bad relationship.' No, we have a good relationship. We are just working things out. "I think the problem here is from a culture difference, which they are struggling to understand. The African culture aspect of things. I have to try to make sure that's being considered. So I think that's what is getting lost here. Because without that, the relationship would be qualified as a great relationship."
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
USA Hockey Invites 44 NHL Players To Olympic Orientation Camp: Full List
USA Hockey announced 44 players will head to the U.S. men's Olympic orientation camp in Plymouth, Mich. The camp, scheduled for Aug. 26 and 27, is mainly for administrative and team-building purposes and does not feature any formal on-ice activity or public component. All but one of Team USA's players at the 4 Nations Face-Off will attend after finishing second in that tournament. Matthew Tkachuk will not attend, but a player does not have to be at the orientation camp to be on the final Olympic roster, USA Hockey said. Tkachuk was already one of six players named to Team USA, with the others being Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy. Only five of the invitees have played in the Olympics before. Patrick Kane was at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, while Ryan McDonagh was on the 2014 team. Brock Faber, Matthew Knies and Jake Sanderson were college hockey players on Team USA at the 2022 Olympics, which did not feature NHLers. After the Americans won gold at the IIHF men's World Championship for the first time in 92 years, 12 players from that squad are part of the orientation camp as well. Goaltenders Joey Daccord and Jeremy Swayman are among that group, as well as Clayton Keller, Tage Thompson and Zach Werenski. USA! USA! Americans Embarking On World Hockey Domination When USA defeated Sweden 5-3 in the gold-medal game of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on the weekend, it marked the second time less than three months that the Americans have won a tournament that they traditionally almost never win. The 44 invitees consist of 25 forwards, 15 defensemen and four goaltenders. Hockey Canada, meanwhile, invited 42 NHL players to its men's Olympic orientation camp, which included 26 forwards, 13 defenders and three goaltenders. Here's the United States' full list of orientation camp participants. Forwards Matt Boldy Cole Caufield Logan Cooley Kyle Connor Jack Eichel Conor Garland Jake Guentzel Jack Hughes Patrick Kane Clayton Keller Matthew Knies Chris Kreider Dylan Larkin Auston Matthews J.T. Miller Frank Nazar Brock Nelson Shane Pinto Jason Robertson Bryan Rust Tage Thompson Brady Tkachuk Matthew Tkachuk Vincent Trocheck Alex Tuch Defenders Brock Faber Adam Fox Luke Hughes Quinn Hughes Noah Hanifin Seth Jones Jackson LaCombe Charlie McAvoy Brett Pesce Neal Pionk Jake Sanderson Brady Skjei Jaccob Slavin Alex Vlasic Zach Werenski Goaltenders Joey Daccord Connor Hellebuyck Jake Oettinger Jeremy Swayman The final American men's Olympic hockey roster is expected to be announced in early January 2026. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
USA Today
42 minutes ago
- USA Today
44 players invited to U.S. Olympic men's hockey orientation: Breaking down roster
USA Hockey has invited 44 NHL players to an orientation session, providing an early glimpse of who's in the mix for the 2026 Olympics men's hockey team. The session will be held Aug. 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan. It will be mostly an administrative and team-building event and there won't be any official on-ice activity. USA Hockey said players don't have to attend the orientation session in order to make the final 25-person roster. That team is expected to be announced in early January. The men's hockey tournament will run from Feb. 6-22, 2026, as the NHL returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. The invite list includes all 23 players who were on the 4 Nations Face-Off team that finished second to Canada last February. There are 12 players who won a gold medal at the world championships in May. Former Olympians Patrick Kane, Ryan McDonagh, Brock Faber, Matthew Knies and Jake Sanderson will be there. The USA and the other countries have already named their initial six players for the men's Olympic hockey teams. Here's who has been invited to Team USA's orientation camp: USA Hockey orientation session roster Goaltenders: Joey Daccord, Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman Defensemen: Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Luke Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Noah Hanifin, Seth Jones, Jackson LaCombe, Charlie McAvoy, Ryan McDonagh, Brett Pesce, Neal Pionk, Jake Sanderson, Brady Skjei, Jaccob Slavin, Alex Vlasic, Zach Werenski Forwards: Matt Boldy, Cole Caufield, Logan Cooley, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel, Conor Garland, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Patrick Kane, Clayton Keller, Matthew Knies, Chris Kreider, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthews, J.T. Miller, Frank Nazar, Brock Nelson, Shane Pinto, Jason Robertson, Bryan Rust, Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk, Vincent Trocheck, Alex Tuch Breaking down the roster (*-Played in 4 Nations Face-Off) FIRST SIX PLAYERS: Analysis of the initial players named to U.S. Olympic team Note: Werenski and Swayman played in both the 4 Nations Face-Off and world championships.
