Khabib Nurmagomedov

By FCF Staff

Recently Khabib Nurmagomedov has made it clear that if he beats Justin Gaethje this fall, he wants to fight legend Georges St-Pierre next. Now the undefeated lightweight champ is reporting that the UFC is on board with that plan.

Both St-Pierre and Nurmagomedov have expressed an interest in fighting each other in recent years. But, initially, UFC President Dana White said he was interested in making that match-up, since St-Pierre had no intention of defending the title if he won it. Eventually, the Canadians star retired.

But, in more recent months, White relayed he could be open to the fight. Following the passing of Khabib’s father Abdulmanap this past summer, and his repeated call for the GSP bout, White said he would try to grant the champ his wish.

More recently, Nurmagomedov spoke with media in Russia, after announcing his own MMA promotion, MMA Global. While discussing his future, Nurmagomedov said this (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“This is a fight between my dreams and my father,” he explained. “Time is ticking, St-Pierre is 40 years old next year, he has to decide whether we will fight or not.”

“If (St-Pierre) comes back to the UFC and agrees to fight me, I’m fighting him. Why? Because the last time he lost was 2007. My career started in 2008. Together we’ve been undefeated for 25 years. I’m talking in terms of time, not fights. I don’t think the UFC will get another chance to make a fight like that, definitely not in the next 10 years. So, Georges St-Pierre is next. If not, then let Conor beat (Dustin) Poirier or have Tony beat him, then I’ll fight them.”

“If I beat Gaethje, then in April I could fight St-Pierre,” he said. “(The UFC) told me that they will negotiate with St-Pierre.”

Nurmagomedov (28-0) is booked to fight Gaethje on October 24th at UFC 254. St-Pierre (26-2) hasn’t fought since he won the middleweight title in 2017, by choking out Michael Bisping.