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Georges St-Pierre reveals failed UFC fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020: ‘I would’ve put him down’

Former two-weight UFC champion, Georges St-Pierre has revealed the promotion had approached him with a potential fight against Hall…

Former two-weight UFC champion, Georges St-Pierre has revealed the promotion had approached him with a potential fight against Hall of Fame star and former lightweight kingpin, Khabib Nurmagomedov back in 2020, ultimately to no avail – however, it came as a bout he believes he would have won.

St-Pierre, a former undisputed welterweight and middleweight titleholder under the banner of the promotion, called time on his professional career back in 2019, having landed the 185-pound title two years prior in a return to the Octagon in a submission win over Michael Bisping.

And as for Nurmagomedov, the former lightweight champion also ended his illustrious career back in 2020, successfully unifying the divisional crowns with a spectacular second round triangle choke submission win over then-interim champion, Justin Gaethje.

Forever linked with a superifhgt clash against Nurmagomedov since his retirement, St-Pierre – a fellow Hall of Fame inductee to boot, claimed the promotion had fielded a potential fight to himself and the Russian, fruitlessly, however.

Georges St-Pierre talks failed Khabib Nurmagomedov fight

Breaking down a potential fight the undefeated Sambo specialist, St-Pierre claimed he would have beaten Nurmagomedov if they actually fought each other.

“I think Khabib (Nurmagomedov) could have beat me, I’m not saying I could beat Khabib all the time,” Georges St-Pierre said during an appearance on the Pound-4-Pound podcast. “I was confident enough to take that fight that I was thinking that if I take that fight, I’m going to beat him that day at that particular place, that doesn’t mean I will beat him all the time. But I was confident – maybe I’m wrong.”

“I think I would have beat him because if he would have come to put pressure on me, I would have put him down,” Georges St-Pierre explained. “I would have the confidence to try to go for it. …I think that I would have maybe been the first guy that he fought or one of the only guys that would have tried to put him down, and I’ve put down everybody that I’ve fought.”

Islam Makhachev backed as "more dangerous" than Khabib Nurmagomedov by Daniel Cormier UFC — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacace – AFP

Prior to St-Pierre’s claims about Nurmagomedov this week, the Russian’s former head coach, Javier Mendez revealed that in his humble opinion, he viewed the former lightweight champion as the most “dangerous’ fighter to ever step foot inside the Octagon.

Who would have won a superfight: Georges St-Pierre or Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Khabib Nurmagomedov labelled most ‘Dangerous’ UFC fighter ever: ‘Nobody is more dangerous than him’

Former undisputed lightweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been branded as the most “dangerous” fighter…

Former undisputed lightweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been branded as the most “dangerous” fighter to ever step inside the Octagon by head coach, Javier Mendez, who squashed claims from Daniel Cormier that teammate, Islam Makhachev was likely more skilful than the ex-gold holder.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion and unbeaten fighter during his illustrious mixed martial arts career, has been retired from active competition for the previous four years, most recently defeating Justin Gaethje.

Khabib Nurmagomedov rules himself out of stunning comeback at UFC 300 it will be without me — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Successfully unifying the crowns, Nurmagomedov retired from the sport in the immediate aftermath of his triangle submission win, before going on to coach at American Kickboxing Academy for a brief period – guiding the above-mentioned Makhchev to the lightweight crown with a submission win of his over Charles Oliveira.

And recently, despite his dominance inside the sport, Khabib Nurmagomedov was branded likely second best in terms of skillset and ability to Makhachev by former training partner and UFC color commentator, Cormier, who speculated the current champion had that little bit of an edge over his once-coach.

Khabib Nurmagomedov receives massive praise

However, according to the trio’s head coach, Mendez, Nurmagomedov is far away ahead of the chasing pack as the most “dangerous’ fighter to ever compete in combat sports, in his opinion.

“Okay, he’s (Islam Makhachev) more skilled [than Khabib Nurmagomedov] in multiple areas,” Javier Mendez told MMA Mania. “More dangerous? Nobody’s more dangerous, in my opinion, in the world, than Khabib. No one, I don’t care. I haven’t seen one that’s more dangerous than Khabib.”

“In the sense of danger, meaning, you can’t do nothing to him,” Mendez explained. “You can’t do nothing to him. Khabib’s the most dangerous in my opinion, because first of all – in my opinion, and this is my opinion – and I’m being biased ‘cause I love him to death: He’s got the hardest chin I’ve seen on anybody. He’s been hit – he’s been hit, the only person that’s rocked him a little bit, a tiny bit, was Michael Johnson. Michael Johnson hit him with one hell of a shot, and other than that, no one else has hit him with anything. …He steamrolls everybody.”

Islam Makhachev set to fight twice this year ahead of expected UFC return — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacece

In terms of a return for the above-mentioned, Makhachev, the Russian has been heavily linked with a title defense against former interim champion, Dustin Poirier as soon as June in his return to the Octagon.

Do you agree with Javier Mendez’s claims about Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Khabib Nurmagomedov labelled most ‘Dangerous’ UFC fighter ever: ‘Nobody is more dangerous than him’

Former undisputed lightweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been branded as the most “dangerous” fighter…

Khabib Nurmagomedov receives massive praise

However, according to the trio’s head coach, Mendez, Nurmagomedov is far away ahead of the chasing pack as the most “dangerous’ fighter to ever compete in combat sports, in his opinion.

Do you agree with Javier Mendez’s claims about Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Dana White jibes at Khabib Nurmagomedov over GOAT claim amid retirement: ‘He just didn’t stick around a lot’

UFC CEO Dana White shares his thoughts on the MMA greatest of all-time discussion. MMA has seen a wide…

UFC CEO Dana White shares his thoughts on the MMA greatest of all-time discussion.

MMA has seen a wide range of talent across all generations, but when the often trivial ‘GOAT’ discussion is brought up typically you will get the same few names. Depending on what your requirements for the top spot may be, you’ll usually get Jon Jones, George St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, or if you’re a newer fan, Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Khabib Nurmagomedov urges son away from chasing MMA career athletes are not normal people UFC — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

However, when asked on his thoughts White feels the answer is obvious. When asked by Lex Friedman on his podcast, White professed former light-heavyweight and current heavyweight title holder, Jones.

“Jon Jones — there’s no debate,” White said. “Nobody can debate who’s the greatest of all time. It’s absolutely positively Jon Jones. He’s never lost. He’s never been beaten in the Octagon ever.

“He destroyed everybody at Light Heavyweight, which at the time was the toughest weight class in the company and the sport,” White continued. “And then he moved up to heavyweight, won easily at heavyweight. And the other thing is that you have to factor in too is longevity. It’s undeniable. You can hate all you want. Jon Jones is the greatest of all time.”

Dana White claims Khabib Nurmagomedov was in the running to be the GOAT

This is all of course despite their long-standing hot-and-cold relationship that has been exacerbated by Jones’ personal issues and contract disputes.

After winning the title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, Jones was expected to bounce back in November of last year, booked to face Stipe Miocic for his first title defence.

Jon Jones shuts down retirement talk ahead of UFC return I can't just walk away — Mandatory Credit: Chris Graythen

However, an injury forced Jones out of the bout, and while nothing has been booked a far more deserving number one contender has emerged in the form of Tom Aspinall.

This has forced a logjam at heavyweight, something that has plagued the division for some time now.

Is Jon Jones — or Khabib Nurmagomedov your GOAT?

Conor McGregor rips UFC enemy Khabib Nurmagomedov for retiring: ‘He’s only a little fool, he went running’

Six years removed from his grudge match with Hall of Fame star, Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-weight UFC champion, Conor…

Six years removed from his grudge match with Hall of Fame star, Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor has once more hit out at the retired Russian – again accusing him of “running” from a rematch against himself.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion, has been sidelined since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier back in the summer of 2021.

Conor McGregor calls for three round fight with Michael Chandler in UFC return just to wet my beak — Mandatory Credit: Sammir Hussein

And as for Nurmagomedov, the Russian sambo specialist called time on his illustrious career back in 2020, successfully unifying the lightweight titles with a blistering second round triangle choke submission win over then-interim champion, Justin Gaethje.

Immediately linked with a comeback fight the following year as UFC CEO, Dana White attempted to persuade the Russian to fight McGregor in a championship rematch should he have beaten the above-mentioned Poirier in their January rematch, ultimately to no avail.

Conor McGregor hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov

Maintaining his fierce hatred and rivalry with Nurmagomedov in the time since his retirement, McGregor – who is expected to make his return in a summer fight with Michael Chandler at long last more, blasted the former champion for retiring – accusing him of “running” from both a re-run at the sport of mixed martial arts.

“Fighting a bear is handy,” Conor McGregor told UniLad whilst carrying out promotional work for Road House. “I fought one [Khabib Nurmagomedov] that trained with bears back in the day. He’s only a little fool, he went running.”

Sharing the Octagon in a blockbuster UFC 229 lightweight title fight back in October 2018, McGregor suffered an eventual fourth round neck crack submission defeat to Nurmagomedov – with the pair and both corners engaging in a heated and ugly post-fight brawl following the culmination of the headliner.

What are your thoughts on Conor McGregor’s feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Dana White denies rumor Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov were friends prior to UFC 229 title fight

UFC CEO Dana White says Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov were never friends. McGregor and Nurmagomedov fought at UFC…

UFC CEO Dana White says Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov were never friends.

McGregor and Nurmagomedov fought at UFC 229 and it is the biggest UFC pay-per-view of all time. The lead-up to the fight was full of trash-talk as the two did not like one another. Yet, before the fight, a picture of the two backstage at an event went viral and some fans claimed they used to be friends.

However, Dana White says the two were never friends and instead says there was a bit of mutual respect but once they knew they were on a collision course, everything changed.

“Their rise was at the same time, White told former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman on the Games With Names podcast (h/t talkSport). “The problem you are talking about when people say ‘they were boys’, they were never really boys it was like a mutual [respect], you are dealing with two hardcore f***ing alpha males. These guys are both killers. They both want to be the best. They both wanna win and they are both willing to fight anyone and do anything to be the best. So, when you get those two types of guys there’s no being buddies. Those two are on a collision course before they even knew they were.”

Of course, part of the reason for the two starting to dislike one another was at UFC 223 fight week when Nurmagomedov slapped Artem Lobov who was a close friend and teammate of McGregor. The Irishman then threw the dolly at the bus which led to the fighting later that year.

Conor McGregor targeting summer return

Conor McGregor has said it’s all systems go to return this summer against Michael Chandler.

McGregor hasn’t fought since July of 2021 when he broke his leg in the trilogy match against Dustin Poirier. Before that, he suffered a knockout loss to Poirier which was an upset at the time.

Conor McGregor provides new update on UFC return negotiations are ongoing I'm eager for a return — Mandatory Credit: Kate Green

The Irishman is just 1-3 in his last four with his lone winning coming by a 40-second TKO over Donald Cerrone and losing by submission to Nurmagomedov.

What are your thoughts on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s spat with Conor McGregor?