ABU DHABI – When UFC President Dana White and Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov met behind closed doors on Friday, a handful of potential names were discussed who could potentially come out of retirement. Former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight Champion Georges St-Pierre was not among them.
UFC lightweight contenders Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker and Charles Oliveira were among possible opponents who would float for Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) if he returned. However, St. Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) was not raised because that ship sailed because neither hunter is interested.
“No,” White said at the UFC Saturday at the ABC 1 press conference after the fight. “GSP was never mentioned. (Nurmagomedov) is not interested in that fight. From what I hear today, after that, neither does GSP. So that’s over. “
Nurmagomedov and St-Pierre had shown interest in fighting each other in the past. Ahead of his 29-0 record victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last October, Nurmagomedov dropped St-Pierre as an ideal opponent for his 30th fight.
After Nurmagomedov’s retirement, St-Pierre declined whether or not he would have accepted the fight had it been offered and if Nurmagomedov had not announced his retirement in the cage.
What’s next for Nurmagomedov, White revealed during the UFC on ABC 1 broadcast that the champion will make a final decision after UFC 257 on Jan. 23. He wants to see if any gigs jump out at him and give him the itch to come. back for No. 30.
Nurmagomedov will fly to Las Vegas next week. After the close of UFC 257, White will follow suit. The two are expected to dine and discuss Nurmagomedov’s final decision over dinner shortly after. This time White expects to finally get his yes-or-no answer.
“He’s going into the corners on Wednesday and then he takes off,” said White. He leaves and goes to Vegas. I’ll fight and fly home on Sunday, and see him in Vegas again. Those fights will be over. He and I are going to meet up and have dinner in Vegas and talk again. We make a decision. All he said is, “I won’t hold up the division.” ”