Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager says Conor McGregor could get a rematch against the Russian if he beats Justin Gaethje.
The undefeated Russian faces Tony Ferguson in April and if he wins he could face McGregor again later in the year.
Ali Abdelaziz has opened the door to another bout between Nurmagomedov and The Notorious.
He told ESPN's Brett Okamoto: "If Khabib wins on April 18, Conor McGregor is not getting a title shot - simple.
"Dana White is the best promoter of all time because he understands fighting and matchmaking.
"The only way Conor McGregor can fight for a title is if he beats someone like Justin Gaethje. If he were to do that, it would be hard to deny him."
Nurmagomedov says he is expecting a phone call from the UFC President over a rematch with McGregor.
Despite scoffing at a rematch with the Irish superstar throughout 2019, Khabib did not rule out the fight when recently probed.
"This guy [Dana White] is going to call me," he told ESPN. "He's going to call me 100 per cent.
"Dana, please don't call me. If you want, let's go - but he's going to call me. We'll see. But let's focus on Tony Ferguson right now."
Ferguson, 36, is on an impressive 12-fight win streak in the lightweight division and is perhaps the most formidable opponent Khabib has faced to date.
The two faced-off with a war of words at a press conference in Las Vegas on Friday and Khabib seemed rattled by comments Ferguson made about street-fighting while growing up in the USA.
"Honestly, when I go to the press conference I think I want to be nice," he said. "You know I don't want to go crazy. You know?
"But when he talks about street fight, I go a little bit...a little bit crazy, yes. Because this guy never fight in the street. What are you talking about? Who? You know, I have a lot of fight in the street.
"This guy never fight. Because in America, you cannot fight in the street. But I grew up in Dagestan, everyday I fight in the street. You talk about street fight?
"Because people don't understand. Maybe people think I am like him from America, but I am not from America. You know? I am from Dagestan and we fight all the time here.
"Like in school, like everywhere - gym. Like I have a lot of fights in the street and when he talks about street fight, I don't understand. This guy never fight in the street."
UFC 249 will take place on 18 April at the Barclays Centre in New York.
