. @Justin_Gaethje tells me he isn't against the idea of being a substitute in the event Ferguson or Nurmagomedov falls out, but it's not his preference. Would need UFC to cover cost of a training camp. Still prefers to get winner of that bout.

Now that a Lightweight title fight between division champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Tony Ferguson has been booked to go down at the upcoming UFC 249 pay-per-view (PPV) event on April 18, 2019, in Brooklyn, N.Y., fight fans have five months to sit on their edge of their respective seats, praying that nothing goes wrong prior to fight night.

After all, this is the fifth time the promotion has booked this match up.

Related Ferguson Injury Forces Him Out Of Khabib Fight

Indeed, injuries and bad weight cuts have forced the cancelation of the previous four bookings, so you can’t blame the mixed martial arts (MMA) community for being a little cautious when it comes to getting overly-excited for this fight. Heck, even UFC President Dana White was a bit nervous when considering booking the fight once again.

But, if the promotion doesn’t want to be left high and dry a fifth time, it would behoove the UFC powers that be to have a back up in place.

That’s where Justin Gaethje comes in.

“Highlight” recently told Luke Thomas that while it isn’t his preference to serve as back up, he is willing to do so as long as the promotion covers all his training costs to prepare for the title fight.

It’s not a bad proposal, and UFC has been known to pay fighters to serve as back ups in the past just in case something goes wrong. And given the track record of Khabib and Ferguson, if there was ever a time to have another man on standby, this is it.

That said, Gaethje says a title shot should be in his future because he wants the winner of this match up. Winner of two straight — both via first round knockout — Gaethje (No. 4) should definitely be next in line.

And since the upcoming bout between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 is set to go down at Welterweight, there is no reason to believe “Notorious” will be allowed to jump the 155-pound line with a win.

Then again ...