Francis Ngannou wants a special clause inserted that would allow him to compete in boxing, as part of his next UFC deal.
The UFC heavyweight champion returns to the Octagon to face former teammate Cyril Gane at UFC 270 this month.
The bout is the final one in his existing deal with Dana White's promotion and should he lose, Ngannou would be eligible to walk away for nothing.
As one of the heaviest hitters in MMA history and a knockout artist, Ngannou is still of massive value to the UFC but the two parties have been struggling to come to an agreement on a fresh contract.
And 'The Predator' is insistent on boxing being part of his arrangement as he has ambitions of facing Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder inside the squared circle
"It’s always been down the line. “This is something that, I’m not taking my eyes off it," he told TMZ Sports.
"This is going to happen either way, and even if I stay — even if or when the UFC and I, we finally, we finalize a deal, the boxing part has to be into it, because I can’t see myself to retire without boxing.”
“Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder — I would like to test myself to their level.
“It’s not the same sport, but although I’m the champion, so I’m in the top in this division, and at the end of the day, it’s just about throwing hands, throwing punches, having a good delivery system to throw those bombs. And I’m sure that if I deliver my own punches pretty good, I can make damage.”
Ngannou has frequently voiced his displeasure with his current contract, revealing "I don’t feel protected" and claiming he had to borrow funds for a training camp.
He became UFC heavyweight champion in March last year, beating Stipe Miocic to complete a rags to riches tale.
Homeless and living on the streets, the 6ft 4 monster started training in boxing for free under Didier Carmont in 2013 before switching to mixed martial arts.
Topics: Francis Ngannou, UFC, Boxing, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder
Josh Lawless