If Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz gets his way then the lightweight champion’s next fight will come against retired two-division champion Georges St-Pierre.
Both parties are known to have been interested in fighting each other and Abdelaziz believes that it is the match-up to focus on, despite Nurmagomedov having indicated after UFC 242 that he was looking to fight Tony Ferguson next.
“Nobody really cares about what Tony says,” Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports. “Nobody gives a (expletive) really. As far as I know, GSP is next. That is what I want. Tony doesn’t get what he wants. We get what Khabib wants, and if Khabib calls me and says he wants Georges St-Pierre, Georges St-Pierre will be next.”
It’s by no means a certainty that GSP would return after announcing his retirement from fighting, but Abdelaziz believes hw ould be tempted by it, and that Dana White would also be eager to put on what would go down as one of the biggest fights in MMA history.
“Georges is my friend for 10 years, and I know Georges wants to fight Khabib. If you’re going to compare Tony Ferguson, he beat a whole bunch of guys, but he never been a champion. I’m talking about if Khabib is going to fight for legacy, a fight with Georges St-Pierre will be a huge fight. Dana White is a business man. That’s why he’s the best promoter of all time. I think him and Georges St-Pierre make a lot more money and more headlines. People will care more. It’s a fight for who is the greatest of all time.”
While Nurmagomedov has repeatedly voiced a desire to fight the former welterweight and middleweight champion, he has also made it clear that the Canadian would have to drop down to lightweight if they are to lock horns, and Abdelaziz doesn’t believe that would be a problem.
“Actually Georges walks around lesser weight than Khabib. He walk around maybe 186 (pounds). Khabib walk around 190. I have no doubt in my mind, Georges can make the weight 100 percent. Will be great to see two legends fighting each other.”
Meanwhile, despite his interest in doing big business, Abdelaziz has continued to swat aside the prospect of Khabib heading into a rematch with his fighter next.
“Conor is like a sour ex-girlfriend; she can’t get anybody else. This is what Conor is. He’s irrelevant, and you heard what Justin Gaethje said. He’s not a good person. The train has left him.”
