CONOR McGREGOR is on standby to fight for the UFC lightweight title if Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson is cancelled for a fifth time.
Nurmagomedov - who beat McGregor in October 2018 - is set to defend his 155lbs crown against Ferguson at UFC 249 on April 18.
4 Khabib and Tony Ferguson have an unfortunate history of cancelled fights Credit: Getty - Contributor
4 Conor McGregor is in line to fight for the belt if Khabib or Ferguson pull out Credit: PA:Press Association
But the pair have an unfortunate history of cancelled fights, as four bouts between them have been axed due to injury or weight cutting problems.
Not taking any risks, UFC president Dana White told ESPN that McGregor - who returns to the octagon in January against Donald Cerrone - will be waiting in the wings if history again repeats itself.
White said: “Conor wants to fight three times this year.
“He's hoping that if he beats Cowboy, he can turn right around and fight Khabib, but that timing and math isn't going to work out.
“But you know Conor. Conor thinks the way Conor thinks.
“His thing is, I'll fight Cowboy, I'll beat Cowboy, and I'll be ready to fight Khabib at 155 if anything happens, because we're going into Khabib-Tony again.
“So Conor would be ready for that fight.”
The Notorious, 31, makes his anticipated cage comeback at welterweight, but has still been promised the next crack at Nurmagomedov’s belt should be get past Cerrone.
UFC chief White revealed he has allowed McGregor to avoid a weight cut on his return, while fighting at welterweight opens the door for him to face Jorge Masvidal in another super-fight.
He explained: “It's a 155-pound fight that they're not cutting weight for.
Conor McGregor competes in boxing exhibition before Christmas as he prepares for UFC return against Donald Cerrone
UFC news RETURN OF THE MAC UFC 246 - McGregor vs Cowboy: UK start time, stream, TV channel, prelims THE WHITE PRICE Rapper 50 Cent kick-started negotiations for Mayweather to fight McGregor Pictured 'IN FOR A TREAT' McGregor looks incredible in training as coach says he's in best form ever 'IT'S A BAD IDEA' McGregor warned against targeting fight with Masvidal by UFC boss White Pictured BIG MAC DEAL Conor McGregor shows off incredible body transformation ahead of UFC return Pictured CAGEY AFFAIR UFC Octagon girl Camis Oliveira rumoured to be dating fighter Claudia Gadelha YES WE CAN Canelo Alvarez willing to fight UFC star Masvidal in blockbuster boxing match DEE-LIGHTFUL Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin donate £21k to buy homeless kids toys Pictured BIG MAC Fans fear Conor McGregor has beefed up too much and will 'gas out' in UFC return
"And realistically when Conor said I want to do this fight at 170 and then gave me the reasoning he wanted to do it, I was like, there's no way Cowboy is going to argue with that.
“Why cut the weight if they both agreed they don't want to cut weight?
“The other thing is is that Conor has this idea too that if things don't go his way and he gets the fight he'll have had a 170 fight in his pocket again and considering the Masvidal fight.”
4 McGregor makes his cage comeback against Donald Cerrone at welterweight Credit: Getty - Contributor
TrenghisKhan2019 on January 2nd, 2020 at 19:50 UTC »
Can’t wait for Conor to throw a dolly straight at Tonys head the week of the fight and swiftly take his place in the main event
jgnurly on January 2nd, 2020 at 19:46 UTC »
Conor bout to be following Tony around with TV cables
Junesfoshiz on January 2nd, 2020 at 19:42 UTC »
Will he face Tony if Khabib can’t make it?