a return against Khabib to validate his GOAT status?

Georges St–Pierre knew everything during his legendary fighter career: victory (record of defending consecutive belts in welterweight), defeat, glory (the victories against Matt Hughes and BJ Penn) like shame (defeat by surprise KO against Matt Serra). The Canadian has gone through many stages over the years to finally reach the top of the welterweight category (and MMA), and never go down again. He left the UFC for the first time in 2013 for a twelfth consecutive victory. In November 2017, more than four years after his last fight, he returned to face middleweight champion Michael Bisping as a comeback. History of doing things big, the shock was taking place at Madison Square Garden.

The comeback of the year 2017 against Bisping

After a brilliant first round for his debut in the category, GSP had more difficulties later. However, all you need is an indication to change everything. Indeed, Freddie Roach, the legendary coach of Manny Pacquiao is also Georges St's boxing coach–Pierre. that–he noticed a tendency at Michael Bisping and indicated this to his colt between the second and third rounds. Boum, St–Pierre caught the champion against to put him knock–down to the third round. Seeing that his ground and pound did not work after the knock–down, GSP seized the opportunity and grabbed the neck of his opponent: he did not let go. After four years away from the cage, the legend triumphed in the third round and became the fourth man after BJ Penn, Randy Couture and Conor McGregor to double in the UFC. If this fight and its preparation did not unfold as expected, the epilogue sums up the greatness of the Canadian: an exceptional entourage and rare combat intelligence.

"I came back to my chair and Freddie Roach told me what was going on from an outside point of view. I knew that Bisping was trying to counter with his right hand so he said, 'When he throws himself right, throw the left hook by–above'. That's what I did and that's how I put it knockdown. " – Georges St–Pierre about his fight against Michael Bisping after the second round.

Since this triumphant return, St–Pierre did not fight anymore and could never come back. Indeed, the usual welterweight (–77kg) put on weight to face the middleweight champion (–84kg). Imposing an extremely harsh diet, he took the extra kilos needed, but at what cost? Pushing the rigor until getting sick, GSP could have even not fight at UFC 217. Indeed, having gone too hard in this weight gain, her body did not want to assimilate anything anymore.. Fighter thanks to his perseverance, he contracted during his preparation ulcerative colitis, a serious intestinal disease: "After the fight, I went for a colonoscopy. They put a camera inside and then they gave me the diagnosis … they said, 'You have an ulcer in your intestines. We do not know what caused it, but it can–to be stress or the fact that you have eaten too much. " Today, we learn that it is complement cured. A return could be possible: but against whom?

Khabib Nurmagomedov: the evidence

Fully aware of his status, Georges St–Pierre will not confront anyone in case of return. In 2017, he explained the choice of his opponent for the comeback in this way: "The fight is like the stock market. Sometimes guys have a high action, sometimes the action is low. And it's a matter of timing. When I was fighting in the welterweight, I had a lot of opponents waiting for me and I had injuries, I blew my cruciate ligaments at the time. And the others were waiting for me... For now, I do not hold the belt, no one is waiting for me. I can do anything I want. It was the perfect timing. I wanted to make a big boom by coming back and as I said, it's like the stock market. And at the moment, the guy with the highest stock market action is Michael Bisping, and that's the perfect time to do it. " Amount of category to face the middleweight champion, at Madison Square Garden, St–Pierre had offered himself a dreamed return. So do not count on GSP to face a Tyron Woodley in 2019. No, in case of a return Georges St–Peter will do it for money AND inheritance. This good old Tyron unfortunately only has one of two elements: the legacy because he is welterweight champion. For the rest, he can go his way …

Khabib Nurmagomedov, by GSP's own admission, is an interesting option: "What excites me most is being able to be the first to do something. When something can not be done and people doubt me. He's a great champion and, in terms of his legacy, I can not think of a better fighter with a better legacy than Khabib. " Sportingly, Dagestan currently represents what is best in the MMA: 27–0 and owner of the lightweight belt. Some might even say it's getting closer to the legend status. With his prestigious victory over Conor McGregor, Khabib even became a superstar. He is now the second fighter the pus followed by the UFC on social networks, behind the Notorious ! For Georges St–So such a fight stone ticks all the boxes.

Sportingly, this duel leaves us dreamers. Unbeaten, Khabib would find out who to talk to with a St–Shiny stone in struggle. Yes, we could finally see the Daghestanais challenged in his favorite field. With the rumors of a new category in 165 pounds, 10 more than the lightweight category, this megafight could well take place. Khabib could thus abandon his impressive weight–cuts for a more affordable weight for him. From his side, St–Pierre, who has never been a huge welterweight, would find the opportunity to add a third UFC title to his collection. Add to that the fact that Conor McGregor has been pushing for the creation of this category for a while and you are simply living a daydream. It will however be quick, because at age 37, GSP will not be eternal. He gives himself a few more years to come back: "At 40, I stop. For sure. I will not fight in a cage at 40. I'm going to be an adult man, I'm going to have passed this stage. It does not matter what happens. " Hurry up.