Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman wants to get in a cage and beat the living hell outta someone ... and that person??? It's wrestling superstar Batista.
YES, Merriman wants to fight Dave Bautista ... the WWE legend turned Hollywood star in a real deal MMA fight.
"He looks good, man. I know that people will watch that," Merriman tells TMZ Sports.
"I know people wanna see that. If he was down to do it, I would do it in a second. I wouldn't even question that one.