HOUSTON – Jared Cannonier currently is in limbo regarding UFC 248, but said he understands how the game works.

Cannonier initially was scheduled to face former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker before Whittaker pulled out due to personal reasons.

The front runner in discussion to step in has been Darren Till, but there appears to be a few hurdles.

Speaking backstage to reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC 247 at Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday night, Cannonier (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) said if the hold up with Till is due to contractual reasons, then he gets where he’s coming from.

“Initially, it came out that it was his ankle, but then he came out and debunked that thing altogether when he said, ‘It’s not my ankle; I may have a few niggles,’” Cannonier said. “But I heard he’s holding out for contract issues. So he wants to get paid more, and we know how that goes. The sport’s still young and we can make as many excuses as he wants, but he should be getting paid.

“He’s fighting top five guys in the middleweight division. He fought for the title. He should be getting paid.”

Keeping a great attitude throughout the entire situation, Cannonier will indeed serve as a backup fighter for the main event fight between UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and challenger Yoel Romero at UFC 248, as confirmed by UFC president Dana White in the UFC 247 post-fight news conference.

Since moving down to 185 pounds, Cannonier has scored three straight stoppage wins over David Branch, Anderson Silva and Jack Hermansson, which leaves him with a resume he’s confident has positioned him for title contention.

“Whatever fight gets me to the title – now if we’re talking business, and career, and all that stuff, I want the title shot,” Cannonier said. “That’s the next shot for me because at this point in time, right here, right now, I’m more deserving of a title shot than anybody in the top five, in the top 10, in the middleweight division.”

It won’t be the first time Cannonier serves as a backup fighter. He got the call 11 days before UFC 244 to potentially serve as a backup for Till, who was having visa issues ahead of his fight against Kelvin Gastelum. He ended up missing weight by 0.8 pounds, but Till made it to the fight anyway.

This time, he gets a much larger notice with higher stakes. But he plans on being ready regardless if he’s fighting or not on the night.

“I plan on making weight March 7, either with an opponent, either stepping in to face one of the champs, or the contender for the interim title, of course – or just to make weight, be an alternate like I did in New York.”