It's being billed as an unofficial no. 1 contender's bout, but in the eyes of former bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw, his undercard clash with John Lineker at UFC 207 on Sunday (NZ time) is the true measure of the division's best.
Current champion Dominick Cruz will put his bantamweight title on the line against Cody Garbrandt in the event's co-main feature, but Dillashaw believes it's his fight with the Brazilian that should justifiably be the headline act.
"I don't think Garbrandt deserves it," the Colorado-based fighter told Newshub.
"I think this is the title fight that's happening right now between me and John Lineker."
Dillashaw lost the title to Cruz back in January in what was a razor-close split decision - one he still thinks the judges got wrong - and has since gone on to defeat fellow top contender Raphael Assuncao.
The California native believes that, by rights, he should rightly have been awarded a rematch against Cruz rather than former stablemate Garbrandt, and the UFC rankings support that claim.
"You had Dominick Cruz fighting Urijah Faber next, who's ranked number six. My last fight was with Assuncao who's ranked two, and now I'm fighting John Lineker who's ranked two.
"You tell me who's had the tougher fights and who's fighting the tougher guys."
Permutations aside, the 30-year-old certainly isn't looking past the formidable challenge which lies in front of him this weekend in 'Hands of Stone' Lineker.
As the name suggests, the Brazilian is arguably the division's most powerful puncher and is coming off the best win of his career to date against John Dodson, the only fighter to have ever stopped Dillashaw.
However, all Dillashaw sees is a one-dimensional slugger.
"Everyone wants to talk about his power but really the only way he's going to have power is if you stand in front of him.
"It's not like he's that accurate. It's always a barrage of putting his head down and throwing as many hooks as possible.
"I'm not too worried about his power - I'm going to be too fast for him, too technical, and take him apart."
Few would doubt his ability to do so, having graduated from simply a scrappy wrestler on The Ultimate Fighter reality show to one of MMA's most technical fighters – renowned for dissecting opponents with an unpredictable arsenal of strikes from an array of awkward angles.
"Yeah it's kind of crazy to see the development of my career just in general, being strictly a wrestler with only four wins to now just being an all-around striker.
"I love being on my feet and I love to kickbox more than anything. I got straight-up addicted to it and Duane [Ludwig] has done wonders with my skills and that's why I believe in it more than anything."
It was under Ludwig's unique brand of tutelage that his stand-up blossomed into the juggernaut it is today, following an acrimonious split from former mentor Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male.
The spat with Faber was well publicised and a grudge match at one stage seemed imminent, although Dillashaw still admits to mixed emotions after watching him recently bid farewell to the sport.
"In a way I really would like to kick his ass and I was hoping he'd lose his last fight before retirement, but ultimately I was rooting for him just because of him being a pioneer of the sport and paving the way for us lighter guys."
Should Cruz successfully defend his belt and Dillashaw get past Lineker, the two will likely resume their bitter rivalry and he'll get his the chance at the redemption he so desperately seeks.
"I want Cruz more than anything, I would like to get that win back first and foremost.
"I want to prove that was mine the whole time, that I'd still be champion, and prove that he's running from me."
Newshub.
