ABU DHABI – When UFC President Dana White and lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov met behind closed doors on Friday, there was talk of a handful of potential names that could emerge from the retreat. Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre was not among them.
Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker and Charles Oliveira were among the possible opponents left for Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) in case he returned. However, St.-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) was not raised because the ship sailed because none of the fighters are interested.
“No,” White said at the UFC on Saturday at the post-fight ABC 1 news conference. “GSP has never appeared. (Nurmagomedov) is not interested in this fight. From what I hear today, after that, neither is GSP. So, that’s it. ”
Nurmagomedov and St-Pierre have expressed interest in fighting each other in the past. Ahead of his 29-0 win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October last year, Nurmagomedov gave up St-Pierre as the ideal opponent for the 30th fight.
After Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal, St-Pierre rejected the question of whether or not he would accept the fight if it was offered and whether Nurmagomedov would not announce his withdrawal to the cage.
Regarding what follows for Nurmagomedov, White revealed during the UFC broadcast on ABC 1 that the champion will make a final decision after UFC 257 on January 23rd. He wants to see if shows are thrown at him and he will give him the food to come. back for no. 30.
Nurmagomedov will fly to Las Vegas next week. Following the conclusion of UFC 257, White will follow suit. The two are expected to have dinner and discuss Nurmagomedov’s final decision on dinner shortly thereafter. This time, White expects to finally receive his yes or no answer.
“He makes a turn on Wednesday and then leaves,” White said. “She is leaving for Vegas. I’ll fight and fly home on Sunday and see him again in Vegas. Those fights will be played. He and I will tie up and go to dinner in Vegas and talk again. We will make a decision. The only thing he said was, “I will not support the division.” ”