Kevin Lee still feels he’s the best option to next challenge UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, if that opportunity doesn’t come to fruition, he has a pretty solid backup plan in mind.

With reports of Nate Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) looking to end his two-year fighting hiatus – well, for now, anyway – at UFC 227 in August, Lee (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) said he wants to share the octagon one of the most famous fighters in the sport. “The Motown Phenom” has expressed a desire for the matchup in the past, and though it didn’t materialize, he said the current timing is right.

“I’m turning my focus to Nate,” Lee told SiriusXM’s “MMA Tonight” with hosts Miesha Tate and Sean O’Connell. “I think that Nate fight is out there to be had. He’s already run away from me once. Now they’ve got Aug. 4 coming up that he’s looking to get on.”

Reports have indicated Diaz, who hasn’t fought since a majority-decision loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 202 in August 2016, is in “serious” negotiations to fight at UFC 227, which takes place Aug. 4 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. UFC President Dana White denied those reports of a pay-per-view return, claiming that despite offering Diaz fights every few months, he’s no closer to returning than any point in recent history.

Lee, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, asked for a title shot following his dominant fifth-round TKO win over Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 128 in April, but with the return of No. 3-ranked McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) potentially looming, it’s likely “The Notorious” is first in line to fight champ and No. 1-ranked Nurmagomedov (26-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC). There’s also No. 5-ranked Dustin Poirier (23-5 MMA, 15-4 UFC) available as a contender, but the UFC is reportedly interested in booking him in a rematch with ex-champ and No. 4-ranked Eddie Alvarez (29-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC).

That leaves Lee, 25, and No. 11-ranked Diaz, 33, as two available contenders at 155 pounds. Lee wants the fight with “The Ultimate Fighter 5” winner, and he said he’s going to push for it to happen at UFC 227.

“I’m going to do a little bit of traveling, see the world a bit myself and kind of expand some more of that life to experience, which is just going to make me a better fighter,” Lee said. “Coming back? I don’t know. I think the Khabib fight is the right one to make, but the Nate one is out there to be had. I know Dustin and Alvarez, they’re getting in it again, as they rightfully should. But we’ll how this thing shakes out. I’m going to turn my focus onto Nate.”

For more on UFC 227, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.