Kamaru Usman doesn't think a third encounter with UFC rival Colby Covington make sense at the moment.
Covington got back in the winning column after his loss to Usman in their rematch by outpointing former teammate Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 last weekend.
Usman defended his belt for the second time against Covington at UFC 268 last November after stopping him in their first encounter in December 2019.
Covington has established himself as the second-best welterweight in the UFC with wins against former champions Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler and Rafael Dos Anjos.
But Usman believes there are other fights to make for Covington before a trilogy fight between them.
"Colby has got to sell himself, he is doing the right things right now. Right now it doesn't make sense, there is a couple more fights he needs to take on," he told ESPN.
"Go out and sell yourself, there's a guy in that division that everyone is kind of giving all this hoobla about [Khamzat Chimaev].
"You haven't fought Gilbert Burns, you haven't fought Vicente Luque and you haven't fought Chimaev. So go out there and get a couple wins.
"Belal Muhammed is there as well, he needs to go out there and shut down some of the other contenders because right now they could leapfrog him for a shot."
Usman, who recently underwent hand surgery, is expected to defend his welterweight title in the summer against No.3 ranked contender Leon Edwards.
All of the other top five 170lb contenders, apart from Covington, have fights booked as Chimaev will meet Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 whilst Muhammad and Luque also fight in April.
Covington called out former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, who is planning a move up to welterweight, after defeating his teammate Masvidal.
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Poirier has traded words with Covington in the past and insisted they would both "go to prison" if they ever fought in the UFC.
But 'Chaos' said their fight doesn't have to take place in the octagon, calling him out for a fight in the street amid his rival's comments.
Usman thinks Covington wouldn't put himself any closer to another title fight with a win against Poirier and would need to beat another top welterweight contender instead.
"I respect and appreciate if he builds himself (against Poirier). Of course he will make money but on the flip side, don't expect to cut the line when guys like Vicente Luque and Gilbert Burns are beating everyone else," he continued.
"Go ahead and get your money but don't expect to cut these guys in the line."
