Donn Davis Talks Francis Ngannou’s PFL Return, PFL vs. Bellator, and More | The MMA Hour

Donn Davis discusses the UFC class-action lawsuit, PFL vs. Bellator branding, Bellator’s move to Max, Bellator to Fight Network in Canada, the PFL’s loss to Bellator in the pay-per-view, Francis Ngannou, Ngannou’s future, Cedric Doumbe’s future, the relationship with Cris Cyborg, PFL Africa, Kayla Harrison, the PFL event before UFC 300, the PFL season-ending championship, PFL’s new broadcast team, and more.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @mmafightingonsbn
Subscribe to MMA Fighting on KZbin: goo.gl/dYpsgH
Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: Apple.co/themmahour
Subscribe to The MMA Hour on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0NUQhyU...
Subscribe to MMA Fighting feed on iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Check out our full video catalog: goo.gl/u8VvLi
Visit our playlists: goo.gl/eFhsvM
Like MMAF on Facebook: goo.gl/uhdg7Z
Follow on Twitter: goo.gl/nOATUI
Read More: www.mmafighting.com
MMA Fighting is your home for exclusive interviews, live shows, and more for one of the world's fastest-growing sports. Get latest news and more here: www.mmafighting.com

[@ha9096]

Ariel forgot to ask Donn why they won't give the well deserved 1 million dollar prize for the winner of their Bellator lightweight tournament? Usman vs Shabliy is the final of the grand prix, but they won't get what they deserve. Ariel also forgot to ask Donn how much PPV did their Bellator vs PFL card sell? 😂

[@depthsofhell]

When did mr reciepts become so forgetful??

[@imfamouswarrior2976]

@@depthsofhellwhen he has no reason to have malice against someone? God gave yall a brain for a reason, use it!

[@GeraldGruenigMedia1]

​@@imfamouswarrior2976How is actual journalism malice?

[@jonoharper4729]

Did Ariel ask Donn his favourite UFC questions, the ones he holds UFC to account for all the time? 1) What is the Fighters' portion of revenue share....especially with the new broadcast deal announced? 2) Fighter pay structure and win bonus structure? 3) Fighter uniform and fighter's "private sponsorships" rules? 4) Fighter pension and medical care? 5) Fighter's Union? Asking for a friend. After all...."The PFL are on the same level as the UFC, the joint market leaders" according to Donn Davis.

[@COMBAT_-ey8zl]

I only care about BELLATOR, not the PFL. The season format does not work for me. I don't like the fact that they want to have Sean O'Connell as a commentator on a BELLATOR show or a new woman. They need to have more of their shows in America, not international. The PFL events are held at casinos, BELLATOR is past that.

[@LifeOfBD]

Don "The match ups we had for kayla harrison were better then match up she was going to get in UFC" She is literally fighting Holly Holm, a legend in the sport. I have no idea who kayla had fought in the PFL. I know who she could had fought (Cyborg)

[@jbortiz98]

Rooting for the PFL but their whole promotion seems like a confusing mess

[@lb2017bl]

Maybe he should talk to Francis first because Francis said he’s taking off 1 or 2 months first before he’s back in the gym. He also didn’t sound too eager to fight MMA anytime soon and here’s Donn telling us that Francis will fight MMA within a few months. Cyborg was complaining on Twitter a few hours before this interview she didn’t have a fight yet and is annoyed af.

[@terrellewilliams2188]

Can’t that be a lawsuit what does Boxing a whole different sport have to do with MMA

[@GeraldGruenigMedia1]

All Cyborg does is complain and duck fights

[@lb2017bl]

@@GeraldGruenigMedia1 she literally accepted to fight Kayla for February.

[@GeraldGruenigMedia1]

@@lb2017bl Says who? The liar Donn Davis? She literally took to Twitter and said she never accepted the fight. She has been ducking her and the girl that beat Kayla for a long time. She fights C level fighters and that's it.

[@lb2017bl]

@@GeraldGruenigMedia1 Cyborg literally said it on Twitter last week

[@dominika3897]

Really would like the event with Francis to be in Paris France

[@jchianella]

This guy is full of hot hair. Geez.

[@hirotiki9578]

This is wild. Sacrificing your biggest star in Francis only to have Ferreira get over? I literally only remember Ferreira for fake tapping to Werdum and hearing Werdum say “he tapped” like 10x in the post fight lol. The opposite of what they should be doing.

[@HD-fc4ds]

PFL or more like money burning charity.

[@MightyUnderdog]

All for PFL!! LET'S GO!!

[@iceKOId]

I like this guy and his honesty

[@depthsofhell]

Francis 2 days ago was like boxing owes me i deserve more and now donn here talking about the renan fight yeah no not a good look for either side

[@Moonlight-dg9wq]

September is too F that Francis Ngannou needs to regroup first before fighting

[@jhonnyinojosa6625]

Imagine Francis, getting K.O. in the very first round 😂😂😂

[@jamesjohnston1297]

I wish Donn would stop calling himself a fighter. Yes, he shows huge resilience to get these investments, but fighters are being physically pummeled - often towards death's door or permanent injury, with excruciating pain. They're not the same thing.

[@franciscomendoza7348]

😂bro what ? Fighters they talking about sports how often are ufc or mma fighters near death ? Or permanent injury bruh 😂

[@vava88888]

... its like your old geography teacher became a fight promoter

[@cathaldowdall7467]

This dude is living in the clouds . That lawsuit not going to court is the nail in coffin for pfl . Be out of business in 2 years . Zero money being made

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Saudi bought in and as we are aware Saudi Arabia isn’t chasing a financial ROI any day soon. And that lawsuit revealed that competitors, namely Bellator, had almost all of the terms at issue in that conflict and actually were more restrictive in a lot of ways than the average UFC deals were during the time period at issue.

[@tuffneggah]

fischer stevens here is almost as bad as coker

[@Dynomite611]

One Championship is pretty awesome. I don’t think anyone can compete with UFC in America. Fighter pay is great for fighters but at the end it’s all about fans the one paying. PFL needs a mcgregor type person to push the company forward. Mcgregor breakout was 10 Years ago yet everyone is still calling him out. Last time he was actively fighting in the UFC was in 2016.

[@iceKOId]

Bellator show was amazing

[@XDanimalzX]

Delusional Don!

[@zigmej]

What do you think about UFC lawsuit? PFL is a great second option... cool conversation.

[@jhonnyinojosa6625]

That lawsuit is over. And is a BIG W for the UFC.

[@charliec2966]

​@@zigmejYOU MUST BE CLUELESS.

[@zigmej]

@@charliec2966you failed PFL and Francis.

[@thegator7018]

@@zigmej the lawsuit where Endeavor gave pocket change to the broke fighters and didnt agree to a single one of their conditions?

[@jadow4]

The brand splitting is so confusing. Why not just one brand called 'PFL'?

[@taskmaster65]

Every time I see this guy give his speeches my only question is, Are you still using THE REF CAM? If the answer is Yes, I don't have time for your fight cards. Your stupid shaky burry off center go-pro glasses camera ruins the fights for me. Find an investor who will pay for you to BUY YOURSELF A CLUE!!!!!!

[@TelvinKipapa]

Can PFL leave the PPV business.

[@Rya_N33]

There has to be bigger promotions then the pfl in Russia this guy is like if chat got wrote a script for a soy promoter which is ok because that’s the way the universe works war brings peace and unity

[@imfamouswarrior2976]

Imagine they get Nina to come commentate as the surprise newer female commentator 😂

[@Brimgrub]

12:30 for francis fight date

[@FOXqtr]

i feel bad for him just like beltor . strikeforce . and pride he we go broke

[@evilkhamzat]

Max is actually a good move for Bellator 100 million subscribers place where GOT and HOTD air every summer along with the NBA and NHL well done.

[@eldorito4014]

This guy is a clown haha. He claims he has great fighters but he’s basically saying we’ll spread the product in hopes viewers stumble across it because advertising does nothing as no one cares about Bellator or PFL

[@jhonnyinojosa6625]

They need to change the belt 😒 that belt is so ridiculous 😂😂😂

[@Dr.gobshite]

Im sure Don Davis is a great guy but he looks like a creepy Elmer Fudd and no one is really gravitating toward his nerdy personality and the few who did just found out he was selling snake oil on this champs vs champs. They have no fighters that can justify a PPV card except Francis. they lost Kayla and MVP and im sure AJ and Patchy aren't far behind. Cyborgs on her own agenda, and The Pitbuls might have been stars if they weren't so reluctant to learn English.

[@Moonlight-dg9wq]

This guy is trying to set Francis up he doesn't want the best Francis Ngannou the predictor his trying to enter through the wound don't do that Francis Ngannou should fight next year no t this year

[@JavierNYC423]

Francis the predictor ngannou

[@aronrosas4191]

He's going to lose. Similar to a time where a new wrestling entity emerged only to eventually fail due to bankrupt

[@masterisiash5310]

I wish you people in comments would stop hating on PFL!!!! This organization is trying to give fighter a second option, The UFC will always be the first option but UFC not perfect needle. So find the next second option, or third option Barek nuckle fighting!!!, The life of a fighter is HARD!!!, So if the PFL trying to provide fighters with a decent payday than I'm all for it!!!! I' will sit back and ENJOY😊🥋🇺🇸🏟🙌🙌🙌 THE SHOW...

[@BH-nq5xy]

🤦‍♂️ PFL will never be anything with Don at the helm

[@paulcox2447]

Donn needs to let that hair go. It's so far back you can barely see it.

[@marcfernandez6676]

This guy is a buzz kill

[@deaglefly4338]

This guy is fantastic! He really got me excited for the Francis fight! Great promotion here and great message! Looking to deliver to us fans and you can feel the genuineness

[@arizonacolour8793]

Love to hear from Donn, such a different energy and attitude that the usual corporate dudes

[@dotagedrain7051]

Pfl need ppv...... please stop this garbage

[@paulcox2447]

Ppv is a model that should have died out about 15 years ago.

[@steelecan]

He seems so much more authentic and honest than Dana.

[@jmill5995]

Thanks for the laugh

[@DDP1991]

This guy has snickering rat energy. Wouldn’t trust him as far as Ariel “I skip arm day” Helwani could throw him

[@Tmink7]

I love hearing this guy talk shop feel he is 100% authentic hope he isn’t putting on a huge front

[@monstanick9722]

Company won’t be around in 10 years

[@bigfist0]

PFL should let artist work with Ariel and create a Ariel PFL event poster. I'm telling you this will generate attentions and interests and it's never been done before. Ariel is an icon in MMA so it would mean a lot.

[@googlelovesfatcock6987]

cares about the fans, but puts ngannou vs problema and cryborg vs lesbo in riyadh..... yea ok

[@terrellewilliams2188]

What about get Jon Jones in PFL and we get Ngannou vs Jones

[@googlelovesfatcock6987]

@@terrellewilliams2188 that won't happen

[@paulcox2447]

Who else would you want to see ngannou fighting?

[@terrellewilliams2188]

@@paulcox2447 Dehontay Wilder