Georges St. Pierre Responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Challenge at UFC 223

After another dominant display at UFC 223, Khabib Nurmagomedov has already turned to his attention to his next challenger.

Most fans expected him to mention a certain Irishman’s name or the man who was scheduled to originally face him this weekend in Tony Ferguson.

Instead, the Joe Rogan that he would indeed like to face the man he looked up to as a kid, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St. Pierre at Madison Square Garden in November.

“I remember when I grew up, 11, 12 years ago, when I was in the Junior Combat Sambo Dagestan championships, he fights for UFC title,” Nurmagomedov said, as he explained his interest in facing St. Pierre. “When I grew up, I watch his all fights with my father. He is the greatest athlete ever in the 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.

However, the interest in the fight wasn’t reciprocated from the Canadian, who apparently told MMA reporter Ariel Helwani that that the UFC and Nurmagomedov have unfinished business before he decides to make a move for the lightweight title.

I asked @GeorgesStPierre what he thought of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s post-fight comments. His response:

“I feel UFC and Khabib got unfinished business before I try to make a step in here to go for the 155 title.”

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 8, 2018

The new lightweight king respects GSP’s decision not to fight him as he feels he doesn’t need to return to MMA as he’s achieved everything.

“I’m going to send [St. Pierre] a message like Diaz says, ‘where you at boy?’” Khabib said with a laugh. “To be honest, if you ask me about Georges, he doesn’t need to come back. Why he need this? He’s already the greatest athlete. Why will he come back and fight, make 155? He never makes 155. I don’t know.”