The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the postponement of its anticipated event in Paris, originally scheduled for May 23. Ticket holders will receive full refunds, but a rescheduled date has not yet been confirmed. This information was shared through a brief statement on PFL Europe’s social media channels, posted on Thursday.
The announcement did not provide specific reasons for the delay, but the event was set to be headlined by lightweight fighter Mansour Barnaoui. His participation has come under scrutiny due to a domestic violence investigation involving a video recording of the incident, as reported by veteran MMA journalist Al Zullino.
Barnaoui's former partner, who is the alleged victim in this case, revealed that he accused her of practicing witchcraft after a defeat in a fight and allegedly used a tear gas canister against her in front of witnesses. Additional reports indicate that she was also choked during an altercation in Las Vegas, which was captured on video by a friend concerned for her safety.
The former partner's lawyer, Tom Michel, stated that the methods used against her appeared to mirror techniques commonly found in mixed martial arts. He recounted Barnaoui allegedly saying to her, “You’re my slut. Now calm down.” These allegations have raised significant concerns about fighter conduct and accountability within the sport.
Barnaoui, with a professional record of 22 wins and 6 losses, previously held the lightweight championship in ROAD FC and participated in Bellator’s lightweight grand prix in 2023. He recently joined the PFL following their acquisition of Bellator. Notably, Barnaoui has secured victories in his last two fights, raising questions about how this situation will impact his career moving forward.
As of now, Barnaoui denies all accusations. Cageside Press has reached out to the PFL for comments regarding this serious issue. Meanwhile, Michel took to Twitter to emphasize that “MMA is not guilty, but it becomes an accomplice if it remains silent.”
Originally, Barnaoui was slated to face Archie Colgan in the main event of PFL Paris, which has now been postponed indefinitely amid these troubling allegations. Fans and fighters alike will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds and what ramifications it may have for Barnaoui’s future in combat sports.
This ongoing situation highlights the complex issues of athlete behavior and the need for accountability within the world of mixed martial arts, a conversation that is becoming increasingly relevant in the wake of such serious allegations. Stay tuned for updates as the PFL provides more information about the future of the Paris card and the status of Mansour Barnaoui.
