If that's the case, Conor can likely find some other ways to stick it to Khabib
If Conor beats Poirier in spectacular fashion and then beats another top contender in similar fashion and Khabib still denies a rematch then at that point everyone would know Khabib is a duck. Khabib is fine right now, but in the realistic scenario Conor smoke 2 top guys in a row within the first half of the year then Khabib has to give him his rematch and if he doesn't he's a duck. At some point you can't deny someone a rematch even if you dominated them in the first fight (I.e Francis vs Stipe). Not a soul alive can deny Francis a shot at redemption and soon the same will be said for Conor. Bottom line, winning solves everything and Conor needs to win. Personally I think the winner of Conor vs Poirier 100% deserves a rematch with Khabib but if that isn't enough then one more win should secure it
If Khabib denys the rematch then Conor will have to get creative to stick it to Khabib and beat one of his stable mates (Islam or) and take the GSP fight, or something