UFC's inaugural ESPN event takes place this weekend in Phoenix, and the main event will see two heavy hitters go one-on-one.

Fresh off his 45-second knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes in China in November, Francis Ngannou looks to restore his reputation against the formidable Cain Velasquez.

The former two-time heavyweight champion of the world returns to the Octagon following a two-and-a-half year absence, where he defeated the Travis Browne - the partner of Ronda Rousey - which earnt him the 'Performance of the Night' bonus.

And if Velasquez gets his own way, he may have a lot more in common with Rousey than just being MMA competitors and former UFC champions.

Rousey made the jump to WWE in early 2018 and currently holds the Raw Women's title, and Velasquez seems pretty keen on following in her footsteps.

Velasquez actually linked-up with them last summer and travelled down to the Performance Center in Orlando, where he worked with coaches who taught him new moves, in an action Dave Meltzer described as sending a message to the UFC to show them that he had options outside the company.

And in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Velasquez has stated that he would love the opportunity to become a fully-fledged member of the WWE roster in the near future.

“Hell yeah," said Velasquez when quizzed on whether he wanted to make the switch, per The Mirror.

"I am [interested]. The transition was pretty easy.

"I’m pretty athletic for a big guy. I learn by watching. I’ve never been someone that sits in a classroom and learn that way.

If he does switch codes however, it won't be on a deal like a man he has already conquered currently has - the part-timing Brock Lesnar.

“I’m not looking to just do it half-a**** and do some appearances," Velasquez added.

"If I do it, I’m gonna do it 100 per cent.”

Words like that are refreshing to hear, and he may even replace the current Universal Champion Lesnar if he decides to make another comeback in the UFC, with a big-money fight against Daniel Cormier mooted.

But we will have to see how Velasquez's upcoming fight with Ngannou transpires; win or lose it will be interesting to see what direction 2019 takes the Californian.