In a text message this week, former UFC interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson made his status very clear, and in a way that was very on brand.

“Cleared For Combat,” Ferguson wrote to MMAjunkie’s John Morgan, employing his usual love of non-standard capitalization.

But this is a tricky time for top lightweights, especially those who recently had their interim titles snatched away without ever losing them in the cage. The next title fight in the division is booked. The other potential contenders seem more interested in angling for an immediate crack at the belt rather than risking their status in non-title affairs.

And, with bankable stars like Georges St-Pierre hanging around and eyeing the winner of the UFC 229 bout between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, there’s no guarantee that today’s contenders will get a chance to be tomorrow’s contenders.

So what’s “El Cucuy” supposed to do now? Recent history tells us there are a few options, and all come with some degree of risk.

Take a look at the options inside.