The PFL has been advised to take drastic measures following Francis Ngannou’s no-show in Africa.
Last October, we saw the biggest heavyweight fight in PFL history between their 6’8″ champion Renan Ferreira and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in his promotional debut.
Ngannou easily TKO’ed Ferreira inside of a round to become the new champion.
Nine months later, Ngannou is nowhere to be found in the PFL cage, not having competed since then, and the PFL heavyweight division seems to have hit a new low, with there not being too many marquee names besides the ex-UFC star.
PFL founder Donn Davis recently said he was ‘disappointed’ in Cameroon’s Ngannou after he failed to show up at their inaugural PFL Africa events in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Following Davis’ comments about Ngannou, a longtime MMA referee told the PFL to pull the plug on the heavyweight division entirely and replace it with a different weight class.
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John McCarthy says the PFL should get rid of Francis Ngannou’s heavyweight division
‘Big’ John McCarthy was brutally honest in his assessment of the PFL heavyweight division.
McCarthy, the third man in the Octagon for many legendary fights such as Conor McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202, says it’s time for the PFL to cut ties with their heavyweight roster and add a men’s flyweight division (125 lbs) to make up for it.
“It’s a glamour division with no talent,” McCarthy said of the PFL heavyweight division on the Weighing In Podcast.
“Let’s just be honest, okay? Why do you have it?” McCarthy continued.
“You have the ability to put in a flyweight division. You finally put in the bantamweights. Way to go. That was a smart thing. You’ve got some really good, talented people in that. Open up the 125 pound division.
“Take the heavyweights. Get rid of it,” McCarthy said, adding the UFC’s heavyweight division isn’t much better.
“The UFC’s, their whole lineup, it’s just not that good…
“You can take a look at the PFL’s lineup. Yes, Francis is a good fighter,” McCarthy admitted.
“Yes, Vadim [Nemkov] is a good fighter. You got a couple in there. [Valentin] Moldavsky is good. [Denis] Goltsov just got beat by a light heavyweight [by] Corey Anderson…
“Get rid of it. All it does is cost you way more money than it’s worth for your promotion. Get rid of the heavyweights, put in all the other weight classes, have 125, 35, 45, 55. You’ll have it all the way to 205,” McCarthy suggested.
“You don’t need the heavyweights because they’re not doing anything for you. And Francis is not doing anything as far as what he was supposedly contracted for,” McCarthy said of Ngannou.
PFL Africa 2 event had 70% finish rate
While Ngannou hasn’t fought under their banner this year, the PFL has got something going for them in Africa.
PFL Africa 1 saw Dakota Ditcheva improve to 15-0, AJ McKee return to the win column, and middleweight champion Johnny Eblen dethroned by Costello van Steenis in the final seconds of their five-round fight.
PFL Africa 2 was just as fun, with 7 finishes on the 10-fight card.
The event had stoppages by flying knees, question mark kicks, and more, making it a great night at the office for the Professional Fighters League.