Georges St-Pierre reluctant about Conor McGregor fight: ‘I don’t challenge’ smaller guys

Georges St-Pierre: “I don’t challenge guys that compete in lower weight class divisions.”

The early rumors of a potential Conor McGregor–Georges St-Pierre superfight started when GSP was ringside for McGregor’s welterweight clash with Nate Diaz at UFC 196.

Some predicted that St-Pierre, the former UFC welterweight champion, would step into the Octagon to challenge ‘The Notorious’ if he were to beat Diaz at UFC 196.

McGregor ended up losing the fight via submission, however, and ‘Rush’ says he was only in attendance at the MGM Grand because former UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta invited him to the show.

“I showed up at the fight because Lorenzo Ferttita asked me to come and show up because my agent was in negotiations with the UFC,” St-Pierre said in a recent interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN (h/t Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting). “He wanted me to be there. I don’t know if he had something else behind his head, I was just there because of the meeting. I didn’t have any plan of doing anything towards Conor McGregor. We don’t compete in the same weight class.”

McGregor went on to beat Diaz in the rematch and conquer the lightweight title at UFC 205, outclassing and TKO’ing then-champion Eddie Alvarez in the main event.

After going 10 rounds with boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. this past August, McGregor is now undoubtedly the biggest star in the UFC and one of the most popular athletes in the world.

St-Pierre, who was the UFC’s flagship welterweight star for more than five years, knows McGregor is the ‘money fight’ but is reluctant to challenge the Irishman because he competes in a lower weight class.

“Everything is possible but everybody is targeting Conor McGregor because the money. He’s the money fight. But I don’t challenge guys that compete in lower weight class divisions. For me, I don’t do that. I’m going up to fight Michael Bisping now. I’m looking up.”

Although he’s focused on taking the middleweight title from Michael Bisping at UFC 217, St-Pierre didn’t totally dismiss the idea of a megafight against McGregor.

“He’s an amazing fighter, it would be an amazing honor, but I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. If the fans want it and he wants it maybe it will happen but right now, I’m focused on Bisping.”

UFC 217, which features the middleweight championship tilt between Bisping and St-Pierre in the main event, takes place next month, Nov. 4, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Georges St-Pierre: “I don’t challenge guys that compete in lower weight class divisions.”

The early rumors of a potential Conor McGregor–Georges St-Pierre superfight started when GSP was ringside for McGregor’s welterweight clash with Nate Diaz at UFC 196.

Some predicted that St-Pierre, the former UFC welterweight champion, would step into the Octagon to challenge ‘The Notorious’ if he were to beat Diaz at UFC 196.

McGregor ended up losing the fight via submission, however, and ‘Rush’ says he was only in attendance at the MGM Grand because former UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta invited him to the show.

“I showed up at the fight because Lorenzo Ferttita asked me to come and show up because my agent was in negotiations with the UFC,” St-Pierre said in a recent interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN (h/t Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting). “He wanted me to be there. I don’t know if he had something else behind his head, I was just there because of the meeting. I didn’t have any plan of doing anything towards Conor McGregor. We don’t compete in the same weight class.”

McGregor went on to beat Diaz in the rematch and conquer the lightweight title at UFC 205, outclassing and TKO’ing then-champion Eddie Alvarez in the main event.

After going 10 rounds with boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. this past August, McGregor is now undoubtedly the biggest star in the UFC and one of the most popular athletes in the world.

St-Pierre, who was the UFC’s flagship welterweight star for more than five years, knows McGregor is the ‘money fight’ but is reluctant to challenge the Irishman because he competes in a lower weight class.

“Everything is possible but everybody is targeting Conor McGregor because the money. He’s the money fight. But I don’t challenge guys that compete in lower weight class divisions. For me, I don’t do that. I’m going up to fight Michael Bisping now. I’m looking up.”

Although he’s focused on taking the middleweight title from Michael Bisping at UFC 217, St-Pierre didn’t totally dismiss the idea of a megafight against McGregor.

“He’s an amazing fighter, it would be an amazing honor, but I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. If the fans want it and he wants it maybe it will happen but right now, I’m focused on Bisping.”

UFC 217, which features the middleweight championship tilt between Bisping and St-Pierre in the main event, takes place next month, Nov. 4, at Madison Square Garden in New York.