Michael Bisping has advised Conor McGregor to fight Nate Diaz in his next UFC contest, before renewing his rivalry for a fourth time with Dustin Poirier.
The Irishman remains out of action as he continues his recovery from a horrific broken leg injury suffered during the opening round of his defeat by Poirier at UFC 264 in July.
And McGregor now has just two fights left on his current deal with the UFC, and will look to try and return to winning ways after three defeats in his last four appearances in the cage.
But Bisping believes a "tune-up fight" with former rival Diaz in a trilogy bout should be his next move, followed by a fourth fight with Poirier.
“Hopefully, we see that fight," Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast. "I’m not sure if he wants to come back, Conor I’m talking about, after what’s probably going to be about a year’s lay-off and fighting Dustin for the third time.
"You kind of want to get your whistle wet. Find your mojo, blow off that ring rust. Nate would be the guy. Then, if Conor beats Nate, then he fights Dustin, because, you know, they are going to do a fourth fight."
"The fourth fight will be absolutely massive, but I think if I was Conor’s manager, if I was advising him, I would say ‘take a tune-up fight’, you know what I mean?”
McGregor has been linked with a number of bouts upon his return to the UFC including a step up to welterweight to challenge champion Kamaru Usman.
And Bisping believes the Irish star needs to focus on his comeback and stop "talking s***" to secure a future shot at a world title.
"God knows what's happening with him," Bisping said on his podcast Believe You Me. "When he gets off Twitter and decides to stop talking s*** about half the world and his leg's healed, he'll need to be able to walk without limping."
"If Dustin Poirier becomes the champion by then he will get a title shot because if he beats Charles Oliveira and wins the title, and that's a big if, that's going to be Conor's next fight, I would have assumed.
"It'd be very interesting if it wasn't, I don't see why it would make news to be honest, it's just logical, but the big factor is whether or not Dustin is the champ by then.
"If Dustin wins the belt, then Conor fights for the belt and if Dustin doesn't then he doesn't because there's no way he's going in for a title fight unless it's Dustin Poirier."
McGregor has spoken of a two-weight lift to middleweight as he looks to open up his options in the UFC while still regarded as one of the sport's leading stars.
The 33-year-old has also been linked with a return to the boxing ring after the expiry of his deal, with YouTube star Jake Paul ready to hand the Irishman a "massive fight".
