Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager says the Russian has no plans to fight Conor McGregor again.
McGregor, who hasn't fought in the UFC since losing to the lightweight champion 15 months ago, makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon on January 18 when he faces Donald Cerrone.
The Crumlin man then plans to fight twice more this year, culminating in a challenge for the lightweight title currently held by Nurmagomedov.
The Russian is due to defend his belt against Tony Ferguson in New York in April but has no plans to run back his fight with McGregor which he won by fourth-round submission 15 months ago.
His manager Ali Abdelaziz told TMZ: “Listen, Dana [White] is the greatest promoter in history, (and) I respect the man very much.
“He has to make people care about Conor and by mentioning Khabib’s name, he is making Conor more relevant.
"It’s OK, he promotes, he can do whatever [but] Khabib has a plan, Dana has a plan, Sometimes we’ll get upset, sometimes we’ll agree, but business moves on.“But Conor’s not on our radar. He might lose to ‘Cowboy,’ as far as I understand. I think he might lose.”
McGregor, however, is convinced he can step in to face Nurmagomedov as soon as April if his fight with Ferguson falls through again.
The rivals have been matched four times previously but on each occasion the fight has failed to take place.
"The lightweight title fight is in April and likely something will happen there and I will slot in and fight for that belt," McGregor told The Mac Life.
"It's happened multiple times, it's been scheduled four times and this is the fifth.
"I'll get a great camp, a great fight and it will take me into the year. I'm looking at this as a season so it's the beginning of the season."
