A prime Georges St-Pierre vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov might be the dream match of all dream matches. How sure are we that St. Pierre is past his prime though?
As much as that ship had seemed to sail, fight fans will still pay to see it happen. So much so that UFC president Dana White is open to making it happen.
Nurmagomedov unified the lightweight championship after defeating interim champion Dustin Poirier in the UFC 242 main event.
White was asked again about a potential superfight with St. Pierre to which the UFC president replied "Sure."
The lightweight champion has also long been open to fighting St-Pierre provided it will be at 155 pounds.
“He’s a very good example for young kids. I know he retired, if he wants to come back, if he feels hungry, if he feels he can improve his legacy with a fight with me and he can make 155, I’m waiting for him," Nurmagomedov said.
Teasing a potential showdown
St. Pierre has been bombarded with numerous questions about a potential comeback. He only has one person in mind and that is Nurmagomedov.
The former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion stated that Nurmagomedov is the only one that is tempting enough to potentially draw him out of retirement.
He is insistent though that he has no interest in fighting, winning the belt, and then guaranteeing to defend it.
Quitting while on top
The lack of desire to build a new reign as champion might be why the UFC isn't in a rush to make this dream match happen.
It can be remembered that St. Pierre relinquished the UFC middleweight belt a few weeks after winning it from Michael Bisping in 2017. That was despite all the promises he made to defend it if he won it.
The UFC is investing a lot in its champions in its aim to make a renewed push into the Middle East. St-Pierre quitting again after winning might ruin plans.
"Imagine that they invest a lot of money to promote a big fight between Khabib and I and I win the fight. I’m out. I’m not interested in signing a fight with Khabib and guarantee them that I want to go back and fight another contender,” St. Pierre explained.
"Imagine that they invest a lot of money to promote a big fight between Khabib and I and I win the fight. I’m out. I’m not interested in signing a fight with Khabib and guarantee them that I want to go back and fight another contender,” St. Pierre explained.
St. Pierre is playing it smart and sparing himself the humiliation that other former greats before and after him suffered. But can't we all hope for one last match while he still physically can?
Should St. Pierre come back to face Nurmagomedov? Should he stay though shall he win the belt? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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