UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has sparked speculation that he could be about to jump ship to a rival promotion after sharing a series of family photos on social media.

The Cameroon’s gritty win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January last year was the last time he competed in the Octagon, and he is yet to strike terms with the MMA organisation over a fresh deal.

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (pictured fighting Alistair Overeem) has sparked speculation that he could be about to jump ship to a rival promotion after sharing a series of family photos on social media

The champ recently posted a series of family photos to Instagram showing guests and family members dining together. All the women in attendance are wearing traditional African outfits, except one who is wearing a Professional Fighters League [PFL] t-shirt

According to reports, Ngannou’s contract with the UFC – which he signed in 2017 – was scheduled to expire towards the end of 2022.

That would make the No.5-ranked pound-for-pound fighter currently a free agent.

On December 10, ‘The Predator’ stated that his ‘second career was coming up soon’ and that he was about to begin a ‘new chapter’ – and now his social media posts have sparked further speculation he may be about to leave the UFC.

The champ recently posted a series of family photos to Instagram showing guests and relatives dining together.

All the women in attendance are wearing traditional African attire, except one who is wearing a Professional Fighters League (PFL) T-shirt.

Ngannou pictured with the heavyweight belt after his victory over Stipe Miocic

Many fans believe that the shirt is evidence that Ngannou will sign with the rival promotion to Dana White’s UFC, with the speculation coming just days after the PFL announced it is adding Jake Paul to the roster.

Ngannou has been vocal about his longstanding boxing ambitions but the UFC have been so far unwilling to bend to his demands and ‘The Predator’ has claimed that the terms UFC fighters have to abide by put them ‘in captivity’.

‘You can be free and fight for the UFC,’ Ngannou told The MMA Hour. ‘I just want to be free. We are supposedly independent contractors. [An] independent contractor is technically a free person. That’s the reason why they need some adjustments in that contract. That’s what I’ve been fighting for.

Many fans believe that the shirt is evidence that Ngannou will sign with the rival promotion to Dana White’s UFC, that just days ago announced they will be adding Jake Paul to their roster

Ngannou has been vocal about his longstanding boxing ambitions but the UFC have been so far unwilling to bend to his demands

‘The term of the contract, everything that they put into, they hold you in captivity.

‘You can’t do anything. You have no rights. The contract is one-sided, although you still don’t have nothing. You don’t even have health insurance, even while you’re putting your body on the line to provide to put on the show.

‘You’re risking everything. There’s a lot of things. We have no insurance. Nothing. No guarantee, which I understand as an independent contractor, but treat me as such, if I am. Whether I’m going to be an employee or an independent contractor, make it very clear in the contract. It’s very mixed up.’

If Ngannou does decide to stay with the UFC, fight fans will be banking on an epic showdown between him and former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

If Ngannou does decide to stay with the UFC, fight fans will be banking on an epic showdown with former light-heavyweight champion, Jon Jones (pictured)

‘Bones’ hasn’t fought since early 2020 and has been spending the interim period bulking up to the new weight class.

Ngannou has expressed interest in the clash with Jones in 2023 if he settles his contract dispute with the UFC.