Francis Ngannou was demanding a three-fight deal to re-sign with the UFC that would have included two fights against Jon Jones.
Ngannou, 36, has been a free agent since last month but has now officially left the UFC and vacated his heavyweight title by refusing to sign a new contract. The Cameroonian was unhappy with several terms of his old contract that the UFC were unable to offer him in a new deal and Ngannou is now free to compete in boxing or another MMA promotion as the UFC has waived their right to match any offer he receives.
Typically UFC fighters are offered five to eight-fight contracts, but Ngannou was demanding a three-fight deal to re-sign the promotion among other exclusive terms. "I asked for three fights with no extension. One was Jon Jones, two was Stipe and [the third] hopefully Jones again. Out of those three fights I hoped that two of them were [against] Jones," he said on The MMA Hour.