GSP Clears the Air on Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC

Georges Saint-Pierre admits he expected a callout from Khabib Nurmagomedov

(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Georges Saint-Pierre (GSP) revealed he expected a callout from former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, after "The Eagle" defeated Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

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GSP appeared on the "Full Send Podcast" on May 5, and discussed the rumored callout that nearly brought him back to the UFC:

"Khabib at one point --- I thought it was the only fight I would have come back for .... when [Nurmagomedov] fought Justin Gaethje, everybody told me --- even in his entourage --- they [said] 'Be ready because he's going to call you out.'

"I had butterflies, I was like s***! When I thought I was done, they pulled me right back in.

"And then [Nurmagomedov] took his mic and he retired. Nobody saw that coming..."

Unfortunately the matchup between GSP and Nurmagomedov never materialized, with Nurmagomedov holding true to the promise he made to his mother and staying retired.

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"It's always a question of timing," GSP stressed during an interview with Valuetainment. The Canadian fighter cleared the air on why he never fought Nurmagomedov when it was possible:

"It's always a question of timing. We've tried to make it happen. A year after I retired we approached the UFC with that idea. Khabib was onboard, I was onboard but the UFC had other plans.

"They wanted to --- in a business point of view it made sense because they wanted to keep Khabib active to keep the ball rolling. They knew that I would only come back for one fight.

"They'd rather keep Khabib active and not take the risk. And therefore that's why I believe it did not materialize. However when Khabib [beat] Justin Gaethje I think he took everybody by surprise [by retiring]."

GSP discussed his failed boxing match with Oscar De La Hoya, and how UFC President Dana White contacted him with an offer to fight Nurmagomedov, since they were both officially retired:

"I didn't want to do it, but I told Dana just to see what happened. I was curious; it's always a chess game when the promoter calls you.

"So I didn't say no, I said 'let me think about it'. And the way Dana talked to me it was like Khabib already accepted .... Dana kind of lied to me, they didn't approach Khabib first, they approached me first to make it happen .... I know now for a fact --- one hundred percent [Dana lied to me]."

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