Georges St-Pierre Would Return for Winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor
Georges St-Pierre might have found a fight that interests him.
The former two-division UFC champion, who last competed in November 2017 when he won the middleweight title from Michael Bisping, has hinted at a return to action but only if the right opportunity came along.
St-Pierre is all about legacy these days so the only fights that interest him are the ones that will continue to build his resume as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
One particular matchup that definitely catches St-Pierre’s attention is the potential showdown against the winner of the UFC 229 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.
“I would be interested in that fight,” St-Pierre told Submission Radio on Monday. “That’s a win-win situation. It’s a legacy upgrade and it’s good money, it’s going to be a good fight. However, I fought at 170 [pounds] and I relinquish the title, I fought at 185 and I relinquished the title, I don’t think the UFC will let me fight for the title at 155. They will be afraid I will relinquish and I left the division in ruins.”
Considering the gaudy amount of pay-per-view sales the UFC could inevitable rake in from having St-Pierre fight McGregor or Nurmagomedov, it’s tough to imagine the promotion wouldn’t even consider it.
While the title would mean more to him, St-Pierre says he would still consider facing Nurmagomedov or McGregor regardless of whether or not the championship was on the line.
As far as who he might face, St-Pierre seems to believe the undefeated Russian champion holds the edge over McGregor in their fight, but that doesn’t mean the Irishman should be counted out.
“If I have to bet, if I have to put my house on it, I would have to choose Khabib over Conor,” St-Pierre said. “Khabib has never lost, he never lost. Conor has lost before, he has lost on the ground, which is where Khabib is good. That’s where Khabib is the most competent at. However, Khabib sometimes is a slow starter and it’s hard sometimes to close distance, he has a problem to close the distance but once he’s got you in the clinch, he’s very good.
“The odds go in Khabib’s favor, maybe 60 to 40 I believe.”
St-Pierre added that he might be willing to return as early as UFC 230 in New York or possibly UFC 231 in Toronto but it all depends on the UFC’s ability to find him an opponent that gets him interested in fighting again.
Obviously, St-Pierre has at least two names that would fit that short list of potential opposition.
