Francis Ngannou has finally addressed his absence from the recent PFL Africa events, an issue that sparked speculation and even public criticism from PFL CEO Donn Davis.
As chairman of PFL Africa, Francis Ngannou has been one of the biggest advocates for growing mixed martial arts on the continent. His absence from the first two shows raised questions, especially after Davis publicly admitted he was disappointed Ngannou wasn’t in attendance. For some, it even fueled rumors of tension between Ngannou and the promotion.
Ngannou cleared the air during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, explaining that his decision was rooted in how the events were presented.
“As far as my reaction, I don’t think it was something he should have bring out there,” Ngannou said. “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.”
The inaugural PFL Africa event took place July 19 at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa, featuring 14 fights. However, the structure of the card split the branding: the undercard was billed as PFL Africa, while the main card was labeled PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series, headlined by Johnny Eblen vs. Costello van Steenis. For Ngannou, the setup diminished the importance of African fighters.
“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,” Ngannou explained. “That wasn’t my decision, and I wasn’t down for it, but I expressed my feelings to them.”
Although the card featured names like A.J. McKee and Dakota Ditcheva, Ngannou felt the spotlight should have been reserved for African fighters. His vision for PFL Africa has always been about giving homegrown talent a platform to shine, not relegating them to a secondary position.
Ngannou also missed the second event on August 9. While that card came closer to the vision he had for the promotion, it still didn’t fully align with his expectations.
“Matter of circumstances, and again, we were still working on it,” Ngannou said. “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.”
Despite Davis’ public comments, Ngannou pointed out that most of his discussions about PFL Africa’s future have been with Peter Murray and other executives. He downplayed any talk of friction with the company, making it clear his absence was a matter of principle.
For Ngannou, this isn’t about skipping events, it’s about building a lasting foundation. His vision for PFL Africa is to create a platform where African MMA talent isn’t just featured but celebrated as the centerpiece of the show.
