Khabib Nurmagomedov’s best thirtieth and last profession battle would have been the legendary longtime Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre. Sadly, it was by no means meant to be.
Nurmagomedov, 34, retired with an ideal 29-0 report after submitting Justin Gaethje with a second spherical triangle choke at UFC 254 in Oct. 2020. Whereas his retirement was anticipated to be close to with the aim of 30-0 in thoughts, the in-Octagon announcement got here as a shock to the combined martial arts (MMA) world. The previous Light-weight titleholder revealed that his mom had been begging him to hold up the gloves since his father, Abdulmanap, handed away earlier that earlier July 2020. “The Eagle” listened and has saved his promise since.
MMA has nonetheless seen involvement from Nurmagomedov within the promotional and training realms, however no actual comebacks have been teased. That’s not with no lack of making an attempt from offerers, nevertheless. The aforementioned St-Pierre is returning to motion for a UFC Combat Cross Invitational grappling match in December 2023 and the primary identify on everybody’s thoughts was, after all, Nurmagomedov. In response to Craig Jones, who competed within the final Combat Cross Invitational, Nurmagomedov desired a big purse to get again in competitors.
“I used to be with the [UFC] Combat Cross guys they usually had been making an attempt to ask me for opponents for ‘GSP,’ for concepts, and I had no thought who could be [suitable] …” Jones stated on B-Workforce Jiu Jitsu. “They requested me within the second and I didn’t know. I keep in mind I stated Khabib and I feel they stated Khabib needed $5 million to do the grappling match. I used to be like, ‘Woah!’ Clearly that’s priced himself on the market. These guys could be cool to see. I’d love to coach with these guys and really feel what it’s like, you realize?”
A number of attainable names have been kicked round as St-Pierre’s first opponent again on the grappling mats, however nothing but has been confirmed. St-Pierre’s final battle got here towards Michael Bisping at UFC 217 in Nov. 2017 when he defeated “The Rely” by way of a 3rd spherical rear-naked choke to change into the brand new Middleweight champion.
