GSP not interested in Nurmagomedov fight for now
Georges St-Pierre: “I feel UFC and Khabib got unfinished business before I try to make a step in here to go for the 155 title.”
After dominating an admirably game Al Iaquinta for five rounds, Khabib Nurmagomedov stayed undefeated and won the UFC undisputed lightweight title. When it was all over, while still in the Octagon, he said he wanted to fight welterweight G.O.A.T. Georges St-Pierre, at Madison Square Garden, in November.
However, Ariel Helwani reached out to GSP, who said the lightweight division has to sort itself out first. He has a point. The champ lost his title for not defending it. The interim champ injured his knee. Nurmagomedov won the belt by beating someone outside the top 10.
I feel UFC and Khabib got unfinished business before I try to make a step in here to go for the 155 title, said St-Pierre, according to Dave Doyle for MMA Fighting.
The fight is a little improbable and got more so when Nurmagomedov clarified that he wanted it at 155. GSP came back from a four-year break and won the title at 185, only to drop it citing a medical condition that could slow his defense. Given the growing realization that the culture of extreme weight cutting in MMA is deadly, a drop of two divisions seems unlikely.
No, please, not 170, with Georges St-Pierre? No, said Nurmagomedov and the post fight press conference. When I talk with my father one year ago he told me his dream fight is me vs. Georges St-Pierre. I remember when I grow up, like 11, 12 years ago, when I compete in combat sambo, junior combat sambo Dagestan championship, he fight for the UFC title. When I grew up, I watch his fights, all fights with my father, and he greatest athlete who ever compete in UFC. Middleweight, welterweight champion. And I hear about he want to come and fight in 155, take this belt, make history, become UFC three-division champion.
Why not? Me vs. Georges St-Pierre. If I beat Conor or if I beat Georges St-Pierre, which one is better for my legacy? Maybe for money, it’s Conor, but for legacy it’s Georges St-Pierre. But we don’t know about money too because me vs. Georges St-Pierre is going to be a big fight.
Only respect, only respect, but if you guys ask me about is he going to come back or no? I’m going to say no. He already greatest athlete in UFC. Why he come back? For what?