UFC releasing heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is being released from his contract and his title will be vacated.

UFC president Dana White made the announcement at a press conference on Saturday.

"We offered Ngannou a deal that would make him the highest-paid heavyweight of all time," White said. "He turned it down. We're going to release him from his contract. He can go wherever he wants and do whatever he wants."

Jon Jones