Georges St-Pierre (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

It sounds like Georges St-Pierre is still open to the possibility of ending his retirement for a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov. But, recently the legend said that fighting the lightweight champ at a catchweight is a condition to make it happen.

The 39-year-old St-Pierre hasn’t fought now since 2017, when he defeated Michael Bisping to win the UFC’s middleweight title. In recent years, the former welterweight king said that he would return to the cage for a fight with Nurmagomedov, but when it didn’t happen, GSP retired.

More recently the Canadian star spoke with TSN’s Aaron Bronsterer, and St-Pierre was asked about the possibility of fighting Nurmagomedov. GSP said he could return to face Khabib, if “all the stars are aligned”.

In addition, St-Pierre also outlined this condition (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“There’s a lot of infrastructure problems in the weight class,” St-Pierre said. “He’s fighting at 155. I know I can go at 155, but the problem is now I’m 39. Three years have passed [since my last fight]. I haven’t cut weight for a long time. If I go down to 155, my performance will be compromised. I know Khabib is the same size as me, he’s maybe bigger than me when he’s off season. I never got up to 200 [pounds]. I’m at 185. So that turns to his advantage if we cut more weight, he’s able to bounce back more than I am. He’s used to it.

“I’ve never been a fan of cutting weight. Even when I was a welterweight, I was 185. Most guys are much bigger than 185. But that’s one of the things in the principles of the art of war. Know the terrain. I don’t know. I’ve never fought at 155. He knows. I believe to make it fair we need to fight in a place where we’ve never been, both of us. That would have to be a condition to me coming back if it happens.”

Historically, UFC President Dana White has said he isn’t interested in booking catchweight bouts in advance.

Nurmagomedov is scheduled to fight Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, which is taking place on October 24th in Abu Dhabi.