Francis Ngannou claims the UFC used a potential fight against Jon Jones as 'bait' to try and re-sign him.
What happened?
The UFC reportedly proposed the Jones fight to Ngannou when they wanted him to re-sign.
Ngannou revealed this in a recent interview with ESPN MMA.
He said the fight was never really on the table, so he's not too disappointed it hasn't happened yet.
Why it matters for Francis Ngannou
Ngannou wants to face Jones before he retires, but contract fairness is his top priority.
He's been exploring other options away from the UFC, including boxing matches and a stint in the PFL.
The main reason Ngannou and Jones aren't in the UFC right now is money, with both men wanting more to fight.
Jones famously said he wanted as much as Deontay Wilder to fight Ngannou.
What comes next?
Ngannou would be willing to propose a fight against Jones to the UFC, but it would depend on the contract.
He wants the contract to be fair and work for all parties involved.
Ngannou has no problem with contracts, but he has a problem with the way they're used.
He's a businessman and understands the concept of a contract, which is an agreement between two people.
Ngannou will sign a contract if it's right and fair, and he'll honor his part of the deal.
He's been booked on Jake Paul's MVP MMA card on May 16, and he's had boxing matches with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury