I think you hit the nail on the head in that he's making the wiser financial decisions that set him up for his future far better than winning the strap does. One, maybe two fights with Conor and then the title fight is shrewd and him striking whilst the iron is hot. Conor's draw and the ability to make top dollar off fighting him is fading, and Poirer is not a big draw in and of himself.
I think just as his fighting style is evolving, so to are his business and financial smarts, especially with knowing how Dana treats fighters who aren't box office.
That's all some of the guys in the division have been doing, for years! How do you think Oliveira got the title shot? Pure merit, graft and an insane streak of wins! Some guy teleports into the UFC, and bam! Here you go fella, a title shot! It puts noses out of joint and it's yet again a show of disdain on Dana's part.
Let Chandler fight once or twice more before giving him the opportunity to fight for the belt!