In an era of stars and money fights, it’s not always the No. 1 contender who gets the next crack at the championship.

Justin Gaethje just might be about to learn this the hard way.

Conor McGregor will make his return on Jan. 18 at UFC 246, where he’ll take on Donald Cerrone in the main event.

And if he beats “Cowboy,” UFC president Dana White said McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will be next in line for a lightweight title shot after the upcoming Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight, even thought McGregor’s bout with Cerrone is at welterweight.

So that would put Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), who’s knocked out his last three opponents in the first round, including Cerrone, in a tough spot.

But Cerrone (36-13 MMA, 23-10 UFC) says it’s not always about your body of work in the division. The UFC is a money-driven machine, and historically speaking, no man has generated more pay-per-view sales than McGregor, the former lightweight and featherweight champion.

“If you’re talking rankings and deserving, sure,” Cerrone told MMA Junkie on Gaethje. “If you’re talking popularity and the business side of it and making money, yeah. It’s two different games. The UFC gets to pick and choose and do that they want for what makes financially more sense for them. That’s just what this game has turned into.”