Conor McGregor will barely have time to catch his breath after his fight with Dustin Poirier before being called by another rival.
If the Irishman beat Poirier a second time later this month, he will be a target in the back.
And Charles Oliveira plans to be at the front of the line for a chance at the former world two-weight champion.
The Brazilian won eight consecutive fights and, more recently, overcame Tony Ferguson and is one position above McGregor in the ranking.
And the 31-year-old plans to stand next to the cage in Abu Dhabi on January 23 with a message for the winner.
“There will be a fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, and I just have to sit in the front row, waiting for which of the two will come to fight me,” he said.
“My manager is negotiating this (going to Abu Dhabi), but I am also down to earth, I know that we are in a pandemic, that things are difficult to happen.
“So, I understand if they can’t take me. I really wanted to be there in the front row, watching (McGregor x Poirier) because this fight talks a lot (for the future).”
McGregor is returning to the cage for the first time in 12 months since his 40-second stoppage at Donald Cerrone.
He has his eyes set on winning back the world lightweight title, which remains in the hands of his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The Dagestan native announced his retirement last October after winning over Justin Gaethje, but remains champion.
He will talk to UFC President Dana White next week, which could leave the title vacant and at risk for McGregor’s confrontation with Poirier.