UFC champion Francis Ngannou predicted Jon Jones will fight him for the heavyweight belt, pouring cold water on retirement claims.
Ngannou finally reached the UFC summit after knocking out Stipe Miocic in their rematch, having initially lost to the American in 2018.
Attention swiftly turned to all-time great Jones, who announced a move up to heavyweight last year.
But the former light-heavyweight king is again involved in a dispute with the UFC as he bids to receive a higher purse to fight Ngannou.
Judging by Jones' latest set of now-deleted tweets, his demands have not been met, causing him to call for his release.
But Ngannou, 34, is holding out hope the issue will be resolved, believing Jones, 33, does want to fight him.
He told TMZ Sports: "I believe that Jon Jones wants this fight. I believe he'll want it to happen because it's gonna be a massive fight.
"A mega fight, basically one of the biggest. He's been around for so long, and been champ for a long time, I think this might be the biggest fight of his career and mine.
"I think he wants to put something like this on his legacy, on his resume. I truly believe that he wants this fight to happen."
Jones found himself in a similar spot with the UFC last year after White claimed he asked for £25million to fight Ngannou.
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The former light-heavyweight champion flat out refuted those accusations, instead explaining he wanted just a raise on his usual pay.
Jones enjoyed a career best £420,000 purse in 2017 for his rematch against Daniel Cormier.
But bonuses would have seen that figure rise, and in a tweet in May he revealed he makes upwards of $5m (£4m) per fight.
Jones was vocal online after Ngannou's stunning rematch win over Miocic at UFC 260, and reiterated his stance on pay.
And Ngannou has backed the pound-for-pound No1, and called for a raise of his own.
He explained: "He's asking for money, he said, 'Show me the money' but I think it makes sense.
"I think for a mega-fight everyone would like to have mega-pay for such a massive fight.
"I want that fight, I would like to have it with good pay and every other fighter out there would like that.
"So, there is nothing irrational in this. Everything is just normal, everyone is expecting we do this to one day have a big payday, fight deal.
"When it comes to the moment, you're like, 'OK, I wish I have what I want'.
"I believe in it and I feel like show the money proved that yes he really wants it and if you show the money, he's gonna fight."
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