A former UFC hunter is on the side of Dana White after seeing the recent fall-out of Francis Ngannou with the PFL higher.
Ngannou's relationship with the PFL seems to have reached a difficult point after the launch of the latest regional expansion of the promotion.
After Ngannou had left the UFC after a contractual dispute at the beginning of 2023, he signed with the PFL and received a number of benefits. 'The Predator' was not only able to pursue a career in the boxing ring.
But the Cameroonian was absent this summer in the first two cards in South Africa. Ngannou's no-show was criticized by the PFL founder, Donn Davis, who admitted to being disappointed.
Responding to the Ariel Helwani show, the former UFC champion revealed that he did not attend the inaugural event because of his frustration about seeing worldwide stars such as Johnny Eble and Dakota Ditcheva that were placed above the African hunters on the Line -up.
Francis Ngannou about the comments of Donn Davis about his involvement in PFL Africa:
“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 that looked like an undercard.
If we quoted him, we have worked a lot for it, for PFL … pic.twitter.com/kzqpaqf0af
– Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 18, 2025
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Josh Thomson says that Francis has proven Dana White Right
Ngannou's gorge with the PFL comes in the midst of uncertainty about his fighting future in the promotion, which has only participated once under his banner in more than two years.
That MMA -Inactivity, in combination with clear issues behind the scenes, former StrikeForce champion and UFC community service Josh Thomson, left that the claims of Dana White after the exit of Ngannou from the leading organization of the sport.
White claimed that Ngannou was difficult to work with, something that 'The Punk' now believes it is true.
“Your company is to be a hunter, not to be a promoter,” Thomson said on his ways in Podcast. “They (the PFL) have done you a solid one by giving you everything you wanted, and you have only given them one fight! It surprises me.
“What it does is that it Validates what Dana had said -” He was difficult to deal with … We were willing to give him as much as possible as we could, but without giving him control. “
“That makes sense,” Thomson continued. “I think it only validates what Dana said. Difficult to deal with, wants more than he gives, pressing everything.
“I don't know him personally … Seems a great person. But there are two sides to every story.”
Francis Ngannou does not expect to fight for PFL in 2025
For those who wanted to see Ngannou in the cage this year, the Camerooner recently had disappointing news.
While he spoke with Helwani, Ngannou gave an update about his MMA plans and revealed that no conversations took place with regard to a return in 2025.
'The Predator' called an effort to find worthy opponents as the reason why his focus remains on a third pro boxing fight this year.
“No,” said Ngannou when he was asked if there were discussions about him fighting this year in the PFL.
“I started awarding, sent some e -mails for a fight to see what's on the line. But because there is nothing yet. I don't think they have an opponent for me.
“So we'll wait,” Ngannou added. “We still have time.
“I know they have raised (Vadim) Nemkov, but it didn't play. I might expect the champion, the champion of the tournament. But I still don't know what it looks like.”