Francis Ngannou became the UFC's champion in March.
Francis Ngannou is in a stand-off with the UFC over a new contract, despite being less than a month away from his first title defence, according to his manager.
Ngannou's next fight will be against interim champion Ciryl Gane on January 22.
Manager Marquel Martin said that he hadn't heard back from the UFC since June.
Ngannou is one of the UFC's most exciting fighters with a ferocious knockout punch, but his relationship with the UFC top brass appears to have soured in the last year.
Martin said that UFC is the best MMA promoter in the business.
They've made it clear where they are. It feels like a stand-off.
It's really not. We would love to work with the UFC, but they've chosen to go about their business in a way that we don't think is right.
There is a stand-off.
Ngannou will defend his title against fellow Frenchman and former gym team-mate Gane at UFC 270 in California.
The 35-year-old would become a free agent if he loses to the 21-year-old but, according to UFC president Dana White, a "champion clause" in his current deal would automatically extend his contract should he retain his belt.
Ngannou and his team have denied that money is the main issue in the stand-off.
I didn't sign a new deal. Ngannou told MMA Fighting that there is a champ clause and that they have been trying to apply pressure with those extensions.
I don't sign a new deal, that's the issue. That's what's causing this issue. I don't want to sign a new deal that doesn't work for me.
I don't feel protected. I had to borrow money to survive in the past two years. I have no guarantee in that deal and I have no protection.
I want to get better terms on my contract and pay what I deserve.
Do the UFC want to keep Ngannou?
White said he would be prepared for Ngannou to walk away if the UFC did not give in to his demands.
The UFC's decision to have an interim title fight between Gane and Lewis in August was an attempt to put pressure on Ngannou to agree a new deal, according to Martin.
White said that he andFrancis had a good talk after they bumped into each other at dinner.
If you don't want to be here, and it's not where you want to be, that's not fun for you and it's definitely not fun for me. These are grown men and women.
I think that Francis and I had a good conversation, and that everybody has to make their own decisions in life.
