Francis Ngannou has outlined his plans to compete in boxing instead of signing with another MMA promotion after his UFC exit.
Ngannou, 36, vacated his UFC heavyweight title and left the promotion after failing to agree to a new deal despite multiple offers. The Cameroonian was caught up in a contract dispute for two years and only became free to leave the UFC last month when the deal he signed in December 2017 expired.
The free agent is now able to sign with any boxing or MMA promotion he wants as the UFC has waived their right to match any offer he receives. Ngannou was demanding a clause that would allow him to compete in boxing whilst under UFC contract and he is keen to step foot in the ring for his next fight.
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"I want to do some boxing at first before stepping into MMA because regardless, I feel like I haven't delivered everything that I can in MMA but I also want to do a boxing match. Maybe explore the possibility to do one boxing match then come back into MMA with another organisation or my own promotion," Ngannou said on his YouTube channel.
Bare-knuckle boxing promotion BKFC and MMA powerhouse PFL are just two organisations to show interest in Ngannou since his UFC exit. 'The Predator' estimates that he would have made around $8million to fight UFC legend Jon Jones and is seemingly banking on making a bigger payday for his crossover to boxing.
"Free agency is something that not many fighters in their prime have a chance to experience," Ngannou added. "I know I have it, I fought for it for the past three years, I really want to make the most out of it. Remember, they are going to be saying a lot of things, trying to bash and devalue me. You have to remember who the real king is, I'm the best heavyweight in the world. I don't care what they say, I'm the man.
"There is not really a lot of things you can do when you are under that contract, they [UFC] decide for you. It's unfortunate that we didn't come to terms, I wish we could have but it is what it is. As an independent contractor, I have to look up to myself and do what's right for me and everyone should do the same for themselves. Now it's very crucial for my future, I have to take the time and decide what's my next move."
