The UFC tried to set up a lightweight tournament for the ages. Sadly, things didn’t pan out.
Somewhere in an alternate universe, the UFC is about to launch the craziest tournament in the promotion’s history. Alas, it’s not the universe we live in. In our universe, the UFC’s plans to have Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, and Georges St-Pierre duke it out for lightweight supremacy stalled out rather early.
Ariel Helwani teases us with what could have been…
After UFC 223, a plan was put in place for a mini tournament involving four of the biggest stars in MMA: Khabib vs. McGregor and GSP vs. Diaz. Winners face off. That stalled. And now Khabib wants GSP — https://t.co/Jlb9FsblbL pic.twitter.com/IOzEg2pGSH
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 2, 2018
After Nurmagomedov won the vacant UFC lightweight title in April, the UFC put together a plan for the top of the 155-pound division that could have been its most lucrative idea to date. The plan was to book an unofficial mini tournament involving four of the biggest draws in the sport: Nurmagomedov, McGregor, St-Pierre and Nate Diaz.
The promotion wanted GSP vs. Diaz on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles, Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor in the fall and the winners facing off by the end of the year.
While we’re sure McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov is coming no matter what Khabib’s management says, the other side of this fantasy bracket died fast after Georges St-Pierre declared his disinterest in fighting Nate (and continued health issues that may keep him out for the rest of the year).
It’s too bad … while a fight between Georges Nate wasn’t at the top of any fan’s must-see list, it would have made a ton of money. And then the resulting fight with the winner of Khabib vs. Conor would have made a ton of money. Tons and tons of money could have been made.
Now you’re starting to see why Dana White isn’t the biggest GSP fan in the world these days.