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Ngannou pegs Lesnar as dream opponent for return to action

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Francis Ngannou has bigger fish to fry than Derrick Lewis.

Mere hours after he responded to months of callouts from Lewis, the former UFC heavyweight title challenger told Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of "The MMA Hour" that if his will were to be done, he'd face ex-champion Brock Lesnar - currently competing in the WWE - in his return to action, not "The Black Beast."

"It's up to what (the UFC) want to give me," Ngannou said. "There are a lot of people out there who want to fight me. I saw Mark Hunt, he would be a great one. By myself, I want Brock. Brock Lesnar.

"I like the fight. He look like - I don't know if you ever seen this guy, he looks very, very big and strong. And I really want to try that."

Ngannou - who last fell to reigning king Stipe Miocic at UFC 220 in January - claimed he'd inquired about the matchup to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, but even if the interest is mutual, Lesnar would have to serve the five months remaining on his one-year USADA-sanctioned ban before he could be cleared to take the Octagon again.

That hasn't kept Lesnar's name out of a steady stream of rumors regarding a return to MMA, nor did it keep Ngannou - game as he is to fight Lewis - from making a friendly plea to the former champ to bring his dream matchup to fruition on Monday.

"Please Brock, come back, come back my friend. We need you here. We need you to put the fun in this division. I need you to give me that f--king fight I've been waiting for for a long time, I've been dreaming for."

Also in Ngannou's sights is another unlikely name in boxer Anthony Joshua. The British superstar has floated an MMA foray on more than one occasion, and Ngannou stated he'd be happy to oblige him with a dance in both the cage and ring.

"I heard Anthony Joshua say he's gonna fight in MMA and if he wants to face me and I was like, 'Hey, you're welcome, man.' We gonna do it both sides, in the Octagon and inside the ring."

- With h/t to MMA Fighting

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