Khabib Nurmagomedov will be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time. As a professional, he was on the verge of being 30-0, and many speculated about what that last match would have been.
“The Hawk” had long wanted to fight Georges St-Pierre, an all-time rival champion from western Canada who had won the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for both the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. This would’ve been a fantastic notification for both guys, and it just never happened.
At the very least, why not just a wrestling contest? During their tenure, their distinct Sambo and wrestling-based techniques were unrivaled. But, regrettably, the present Eagle Fighting Championship (Eagle FC) president’s tenure has come to an end.
During an Instagram live broadcast (h/t Igor Lazarin/Bruno Masami), Nurmagomedov commented, “I don’t see sense in it.” Of course, you may add more gasoline to the flames. I’m tempted to say something, but I’m not sure I want to. I’m not interested in promoting this subject. ‘Oh, I might come back to Eagle FC,’ but I’m not interested in doing so. I’d want to create PR again for competition in a different way. I do not really believe I’ll be back – I’m wrestling with someone. Allow people to wrestle if they need it. Why Would I need it? We are not permitted to accomplish whatever we want in this life. It’s possible that what you want won’t match up with what you actually do. You can simply desire it and leave it alone now. Is it OK to discuss my hunger at this point? “I’m not sure what the purpose is.”
Nurmagomedov won his 29th and last fight against interim UFC Lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in October 2020. Nurmagomedov found the triangle choke escape in only two rounds to send “The Dazzling” to rest. Since then, he’s kept to his beliefs about staying retired.
On the other side, St-Pierre last competed in November 2017, when he defeated Michael Bisping at UFC 217 to win the 185-pound Middleweight championship. It was St-first Pierre’s game back after a four-year absence.
“Khabib is really excellent against the fence,” St-Pierre told Lex Clips. I’d have to have a defensive strategy and just about everything. Still, I believe I’d need to grab the Octagon’s center straight away, utilize a lot of deflections and counterfeits, and keep the competition going all the way in or out. And then when I term ‘all the completely in,’ I mean when he overcomes the distance between us, utilizes my preventive and reactive knockdowns, and possibly uses my (speed and power) to knock him out. I like to employ deliberate and emergent knockdowns since I believe they are more cost-effective for me. Khabib is a much superior chain fighter than I would be…”