Lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov said repeatedly that he wanted to restore at 30-0, and that the opponent for his final fight should be welterweight GOAT Goerge St-Pierre. Although there were serious questions around what weight the bout would take place at, GSP wanted it.

At UFC 254 “The Eagle” pushed his record to 29-0 with a win over Justin Gaethje, and promptly retiring, explaining that he had promised his mother he would henceforth assume his responsibilities as head of household, following the death of his father and coach Abdulmanap in July, due to complications from COVID-19.

UFC president Dana White recently said that he had talked with Khabib, and thought he would in fact fight once more. However, GSP’s coach, Tristar MMA founder Firas Zahabi says the two have earned their retirement, and no one should ask them to fight again.

Listen, Khabib is retired, Georges is retired, said Zahabi. I’m happy to keep them retired.

I don’t want to get too involved. I don’t want to call Georges and say ‘Hey man, why don’t you get off the movie set? Why don’t you get off all these projects, leave your family, put your personal life on hold — and let’s do a training camp!’ I don’t have the heart to ask him to do that.

He has to do that on his own. If he wants to do it, it’s got to come from deep down inside. That guy has written his story. He’s done it, Khabib has done it. I don’t think we should ask them to come back. They should want to come back.

Khabib has said how he wants to just be ‘free as an eagle.’ Who would I be to petition him online and pull him back in? I wouldn’t do that. Never. These guys — both Khabib and Georges — deserve their retirement.

h/t Anton Tabuena for BE