"He has a title, I have a title - we could do it in the ring or the cage."
WWE Champion Bobby Lashley has called out the man atop the UFC heavyweight division, Francis Ngannou.
In the wake of his win over Stipe Miocic, Ngannou said he would be interested in moving into boxing and going up against Tyson Fury.
He told TMZ Sports: "Boxing was my primary dream, and I still have the fire and dream inside me. I believe at some point I'm going to take a step."
https://www.instagram.com/p/CM9BS6MrjPs/
However, he could be lured towards the wrestling ring if the words of Bobby Lashley are anything to go by.
Lashley has experience of competing in MMA, winning 15 of his 17 fights in the sport before his contract with Bellator ended in October 2020.
Speaking to JOE ahead of
Wrestlemania 37, Lashley said:
"I went into that world [MMA] without aspirations of being a UFC champion, I went into that world to learn the business and learn the sport."
Lashley said he always had his sights set on a return to the WWE, even when he was competing in MMA.
This was an issue for the federations in which he fought.
"I won some titles but I was never completely 100% dedicated because I always wanted to come back to professional wrestling.
"That was my goal the entire time, but some of the organisations told me that in order for me to come in I had to write the pro wrestling part out of my schedule and I couldn't do that."
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Bobby Lashley defends his WWE title against Drew McIntyre at Wrestlemania 37 this weekend. (Photo: WWE)[/caption]
When asked about the prospect of facing Ngannou, Lashley said he'd welcome the opportunity.
"He has a title, I have a title - we could do it in the ring or the cage.
"I don't mind it. If this is calling him out, this is calling him out."
Numerous WWE icons have moved to the UFC in previous years, with Ken Shamrock, CM Punk and Brock Lesnar all chancing their hand in the octagon.
Lesnar in particular subsequently returned to the WWE, only to then go back to the UFC between 2016 and 2018. He ultimately left WWE at the end of 2020.
Despite his willingness to continue his reign as the WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley is open to clashing with Ngannou in any arena.
"I'm a fighter, man - so I'd love to be able to fight him. If that's what it is, let's do a big marquee match up.
"People know him as a killer, so I think we'd be able to do something."
Read more:
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You can watch Wrestlemania 37 this Saturday and Sunday on BT Sport Box Office. Alternatively, stream it live on the WWE Network.
