Getty Georges St-Pierre takes part in a training session on November 7, 2011 in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a neighboring suburb of Paris.
Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre doesn’t he think he can cut down to 155 pounds and fight at his best. There has been a lot of talk about “GSP” coming out of retirement to take on the current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in a superfight.
Nurmagomedov has been vocal about fighting St-Pierre for his 30th, and possibly last, MMA bout. GSP is 39 years old and in retirement, however he has spoken many times about wanting to compete against “The Eagle.”
If GSP challenged Nurmagomedov at lightweight and took his title, the French Canadian would become the first-ever three-division UFC champion. It would be a historic feat and to many, he would be considered the greatest fighter of all time.
However, St-Pierre’s performance would take a hit if he competed at lightweight. In an interview with BT Sport, GSP praised Nurmagomedov and said that he wouldn’t likely compete with him at 155 pounds.
When asked about The Eagle, GSP said, “Khabib I believe is the best fighter right on the face of the Earth. On the face of the planet. He’s the best right now.”
St-Pierre also admitted, “I’m 39 years old, I don’t think I could go [to] 155lbs without my performance being compromised.”
Although GSP doesn’t believe he can fight optimally at 155, the former two-division champ didn’t rule out a welterweight or possible catchweight bout. There have been calls for the two to meet at 165 pounds as it is between both of the fighters’ dominant weight classes.
However, Nurmagomedov has a massive fight ahead of him in October and the superfight talk cannot ramp up until that contest is resolved.
The Eagle is taking on interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje on October 26 at UFC 254.
Follow the Heavy on UFC Facebook page for the latest breaking news, rumors and content!
Nurmagomedov Is Scheduled to Unify the Lightweight Title for the Second Time
Gaethje is The Eagle’s second consecutive opponent who holds the interim lightweight strap. In September 2019, Nurmagomedov unified the title when he fought and defeated Dustin Poirier.
Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Nurmagomedov was forced out of his title fight against Tony Ferguson earlier this year. Gaethje stepped up to fight Ferguson in May and they fought for the interim strap.
Gaethje put on a nearly masterful performance, finishing Ferguson in the fifth round to secure the belt.
Overall, this will be Nurmagomedov’s third title defense as he also defeated former lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor in his first defense.
GSP Defended His Welterweight Belt 9 Times & Won the Middleweight Belt
On the other end, GSP hasn’t fought since November 2017 when he won the middleweight belt by submitting then-champ Michael Bisping. St-Pierre vacated the belt shortly after.
GSP is one of the most dominant champions in history, defending the welterweight belt nine times and accumulating a pro record of 26-2.
Along with Nurmagomedov, GSP is in the conversation for greatest fighter of all time and a superfight between the two fighters could determine the true greatest.
READ NEXT: UFC’s Jon Jones Shares Private Message: ‘This Dude Is Dangerous’ [LOOK]
Comments
UFC Legend Georges St-Pierre: ‘I Don’t Think I Could’