UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is refusing to sign a contract extension with the promotion.
The Cameroonian heavy-hitter is making the first defence of his strap against interim champ Ciyrl Gane at UFC 270 but has shared frustrations with his contract situation.
Ngannou feel as though his deal with Dana White's company does not come with much security in terms of finances and is looking for a better offer.
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He also shockingly revealed he had to borrow funds for a training camp and reiterated his desire to transition into boxing in the future.
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"They’ve been trying to apply pressure with those extensions, but I did not sign a new deal," Ngannou revealed on Ariel Helwani's 'The MMA Hour' podcast.
“And I think that’s basically the issue. That’s what’s causing all these issues because I don’t want to sign a new deal on certain terms.
"It doesn’t work for me because I don’t feel protected in those terms. In the past two years, I fought twice, and then I have to borrow money to leave.
Nobody cares about it. I have no guarantee in that deal. And I have no quotation.
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So, based on that experience, I want to get something better. Better terms on my contract, and obviously, [get paid] what I deserve.
“I feel like I shouldn’t need to borrow money for my training camp. At some point, I’m gonna go after those [boxing] money. I’m gonna go do that boxing. That’s for sure.
“According to what is said, I’m an Independent Contractor. So what I want, I want a contract with a possible [termination] date, so after that, I’ll do whatever I want.
“That’s what it says, Independent Contractor, with a possible termination date. Then after that, you are free, right?
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"Then you have a right from there to decide again where you’re going and what you’re gonna do.
"You don’t have to be forced to keep signing or to stay in the [same] contract. Then that’s not being an Independent Contractor.”
Ngannou won gold in UFC back in March of this year when he dethroned long-running heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic in stunning style in Las Vegas.
It was a monumental triumph from Ngannou in a rags to riches story for 'The Predator'.
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Ngannou had absolutely nothing as a child, rummaging in bins for food, while his journey to the bright lights of the UFC including drinking out of dirty well containing dead animals after crossing the Sahara desert, having his body cut open by a barbed wire fence and being jailed two months for entering Spain illegally.
Featured Image Credit: Image: PATopics: UFC, Francis Ngannou, Dana White
