With UFC's lightweight king, Khabib Nurmagomedov, planning to sit out until around November 2019, the show in the 155lbs division must go on.Plenty of huge names and exciting athletes have been linked with title tights over the last few weeks, following on from the punishments handed out to both Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor following on from their infamous brawl last year.

LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

With the dangerous and unbeaten Dagestan taking some time off, including the yearly observation of Ramadan, it leaves the lightweight division in limbo.

Donald Cerrone claimed that he'd be fighting the Notorious for the crown, but UFC president Dana White has all but confirmed that the two men won't be competing for the gold - or fighting each other at all.

Instead, we've got a rematch on our hands, this time at lightweight. Dustin Poirier finally gets his chance at the interim lightweight crown with featherweight champion Max Holloway moving up for the second attempt at the title - after trying to do the same against The Eagle.

The anomaly in all of this, however, is Tony Ferguson.

White revealed that El Cucuy turned down the opportunity to fight for the interim version of the belt - one he held some time ago ahead of an injury causing him to miss out on the highly anticipated bout against the bear-grappling Russian once again.

Now, White has outlined the plans for the 155lbs title, and they don't involve Ferguson at all.

TITLE PLANS

Instead, it's been confirmed that the winner between Holloway and The Diamond will head straight to the top and fight Nurmagomedov when he returns.

CBS' Brian Campbell tweeted: "Dana White confirms that Holloway-Poirier winner will fight lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov later this year.

"Tony Ferguson will be the odd man out.

"'He was offered, he declined so we move on.'"

It does seem like a trend is beginning to form with the UFC wasting little time in pursuing fights once a fighter has initially rejected an opportunity.

With Ferguson saying no to the fight, the UFC has shown no hesitation in booking a different fight altogether and it looks like that rejection could see him out of the title picture for a while.

The UFC did the same recently when Colby Covington was overlooked for an undisputed welterweight title fight against Tyron Woodley, with the chance going to Kamaru Usman instead.

What do you make of the lightweight title plans? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.