Islam Makhachev's coach wouldn't be surprised if Conor McGregor leapfrogs his fighter to get a UFC lightweight title shot.
Makhachev will look to extend his unbeaten run to ten fights in the UFC when he faces veteran Bobby Green on Saturday.
The Russian was preparing to fight fellow top contender Beneil Dariush on the Fight Night card, but he withdrew from the fight last week with a broken fibula.
Makhachev is expected to fight the winner of Charles Oliveira vs Justin Gaethje, but McGregor has been backed to get a title shot.
The Irishman broke his tibia against Dustin Poirier last July and called for a title fight against current champion Oliveira upon his return.
And Makhachev's coach Javier Mendez wouldn't be surprised if McGregor fights for the title in the summer.
"That's part of the game. He [McGregor] carries the big numbers, so whatever the UFC decides. I'm expecting anything can happen with that guy that has the power to do that," he told Submission Radio.
"Do I like it? Absolutely not. But do I have a choice? Absolutely not. To me, the rankings are bull****. They've always been bull****. So, I don't really care about the rankings."
"This is not a true sport, this entertainment first and sport second. So for entertainment value the UFC wants the most money, who's gonna create the most money for them?
"That's where they're gonna go and guess what, that's what they're gonna do. Do I think it's fair if Islam doesn't get the title fight should he beat Bobby, absolutely not.
McGregor is sitting at No.9 in the lightweight rankings and is without a win at the weight class in over five years.
'Notorious', who lost two fights to Dustin Poirier last year, has recently worried fans by showing off frequent visits to his Dublin pub instead of the gym.
Will Conor McGregor fight for a title in his return? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below
Mendez likened Makhachev's situation to the now-retired Khabib Nurmagomedov's, who also won nine UFC fights before winning the lightweight title.
And Mendez said it would be up to Nurmagomedov to decide whether Makhachev fights someone else if McGregor does get a title shot.
"That would be up to Islam and Khabib, we'll discuss that with him. I would be a minor part of that, Khabib has been a major role in where Islam goes, they've been with each other since childhood," he added.
"I'm like the mentor type of coach, I still work with them don't get me wrong but Khabib has taken on a huge responsibility and he's doing a great job."
