Houston Rockets superstar center Dwight Howard signed last summer a four year, $88-million contract with the team after bolting the Los Angeles Lakers. While making that much money playing in the hard court, he would not mind crossing over to mixed martial arts after telling UFC president Dana White that he's willing to fight to the tune of $10 million.

USA Today.com reports that the Rockets big man told White during a backstage visit at a UFC fight in Houston that he is eager to fighting in the octagon if he was offered the said amount.

"I would get up there and fight. If I get knocked out, I get knocked out," Howard was reported saying. "I'll get back up one day."

For his part, White was open to the idea. The UFC president was said to have told this to Howard: "I want to do that pay-per-view when you're ready, man."

Interestingly, a teammate of Howard- forward Chandler Parsons, was also open to fighting if given the said whopping amount although he admitted that he won't do well inside the octagon. "I would literally f- die," USA Today quoted him as saying.

Howard is averaging 17 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the Rockets, which currently has a win-loss record of 4-2. The Rockets dropped a close 99-98 loss to the LA Lakers, Howard's erstwhile team, last Thursday night after point guard Steve Blake drilled a three-pointer over Howard to clinch the victory. The Rockets were led by James Harden's 35 points.