UFC legend Georges St-Pierre is open to a grappling match with Khabib Nurmagomedov - providing it is just a "novelty" fight.
St Pierre has not fought in the UFC since defeating Michael Bisping to earn the middleweight belt in November 2017 before announcing his retirement two years later. Nurmagomedov similarly retired as a UFC great having never been beaten in the octagon after defeating Justin Gaethje in his final fight two years ago.
The Canadian star has admitted he is completely done from competing and will not be making a full comeback to the octagon at 40-years-old. “If it’s well-organised… if there’s some event that is well-organised, that is a novelty fight, something good, maybe, why not?," St Pierre told MMA News. I’m still in the entertainment world, I’m in great shape. I still train like a professional athlete. I still get it.
“Even some of the guys sometimes, they tell me, ‘Hey, are you preparing a comeback?’ I’m like, ‘No, I’m 40 years old. I’m done.’ I like to stay in there and keep my head in the game.”
Nurmagomedov pleaded with St-Pierre to make a final return to the octagon to meet him in a mega-fight after the Canadian beat Michael Bisping. The Russian stated it would be an honour to share the spotlight with St-Pierre who is considered arguably the greatest fighter in the promotion's history.
Nurmagomedov posted on social media in 2019, with the caption: "Let’s do it in November. After this fight you can retire. I grow up watching your fights, and have nothing but respect for you, and I believe I showed that to you George when you were in Moscow.
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"But, it would be honour for me to share the octagon with one of the greatest fighters of all time. Let’s do it 155lbs, or I give away 5lbs to you, cause you newer done 155. Well, it’s your choice 155 or 160, Montreal, NYC, Moscow or Abu Dhabi. Send me your location my friend."
However a fight never materialised with St Pierre confirming his retirement from MMA. St Pierre claimed that both himself and Nurmagomedov were genuinely interested in the fight throughout their career, but the UFC had other plans for both fighters.
Nurmagomedov has previously dismissed the opportunity of a grappling match claiming he would see no point. “I don’t see the point in it,” Nurmagomedov said during an Instagram live stream. "You can, of course, add fuel to the fire. Say something... but I don’t want to. I don’t want to promote this topic.
"‘Oh, I could return to Eagle FC,’ I don’t want to make it. I want to make PR for league in another format. I don’t think that I’ll return — wrestle with someone. Let others wrestle, who need it. Do I need it?"
