Georges St-Pierre responds to Khabib’s UFC 223 call out
Khabib Nurmagomedov called out Georges St-Pierre after UFC 223, and this is his response.
Immediately after his UFC 223 title clinching victory, Khabib Nurmagomedov called out Georges St-Pierre, as he wants the MMA legend to be his first lightweight title defense.
“I remember when I grew up, 11, 12 years ago, (when I was in the) Junior Combat Sambo Dagestan championships, he fight for UFC title,” Khabib said, as he explained his interest in facing St-Pierre. “When I grew up, I watch his all fights with my father. He is greatest athlete who ever fight in UFC.
“Middleweight and welterweight champion. I hear he wanna fight and come to 155, take this belt, make history, be UFC three-division champion. Why not? Me vs. Georges St-Pierre,” he said. “Only respect.”
The two-division champion in GSP has since responded, but he didn’t express much interest in facing Khabib at the moment.
I asked @GeorgesStPierre what he thought of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s post-fight comments. His response:
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 8, 2018
“I feel UFC and Khabib got unfinished business before I try to make a step in here to go for the 155 title.”
It’s also a decision that Khabib understands. He called his shot, but believes a legend like St-Pierre doesn’t have much reason to return to the sport.
“I’m going to send (St-Pierre) a message, like Diaz say, ‘where you at boy?’” Khabib said with a laugh.
“To be honest, if you ask me about Georges, he don’t need to comeback. Why he need this? He’s already greatest athlete. Why will he comeback and fight, make 155? He never make 155. I don’t know.”
During his latest comeback, St-Pierre has likened the stock market to his interest in facing certain fighters. Seems like going for a third belt in as many divisions could build his legacy even more, but perhaps that “unfinished business” means he’d like to see how everything with Conor McGregor (and/or Tony Ferguson) plays out and whose stock rises after.