Although it seems almost certain we won’t see Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre ever fight, the latter is crediting the undefeated fighter for walking away on top.

Georges St-Pierre

St-Pierre comments on Khabib’s decision to retire

Nurmagomedov moved his record to 29-0 in awe-inspiring fashion at UFC 249, by choking out Justin Gaethje with a second round, triangle-choke.

After the impressive win, Khabib shocked many throughout the MMA world by announcing he’s retiring. The lightweight revealed that after his father Abdulmanap passed away earlier this year, he promised his mother this would be his final fight.

Well, since both Khabib and St-Pierre had talked about fighting each other for months, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reached out to GSP following UFC 254. While discussing Khabib’s decision to retire, GSP said this (quotes via MMA Mania).

“A lot of fighters in our sport has a tendency to finish too late in their career,” GSP said. “So their stock is going down, and then it close the door for many opportunities that a lot of elite athletes could have as an after career.

Khabib has a choice now. He’s a perfect role model for the community.”

“I always feel sad when I see an athlete taking too many fights,” he continued. “A champion.

Taking too many fights, and retire, having very bad performance and affect the well-being. That’s something I really don’t wish to someone.

Khabib did an amazing decision, I think. In life, everything has a beginning and an end. The life of a professional athlete, even an elite athlete, has a window.

If you fight past that window, that’s when the problems arise and appear.”

Although Khabib repeatedly said he didn’t plan to fight for that much longer, the consensus was that he’d fight again and go for the 30-0 mark.

“That’s what I thought at first was going to happen, because of the media, what people have informed me,” St-Pierre said. “But it did not happen, and I’m good where I am.

Khabib is invincible now, he is undefeated, it was the perfect career, nothing you can say bad about him. It’s the perfect career.

29-0 and retiring on top with the best performance of his career. What do you want more? It was the perfect fight and the perfect career. As close as it gets.”

GSP leaves the door open

And what if Khabib does decided to keep fighting after all? And calls for a bout with St-Pierre?

“I don’t want to say anything that will speculate in any way that we could make a fight,” St-Pierre said. “Because I don’t want the reporters to put that in his headline, ‘What about Georges?’

It’s a disrespect to the turn of events that has happened to his life. I want him to go with his family and peace and have peace of mind. Not thinking about fighting … just relax and enjoy your retirement.”

“One day if he wants to come back and do it, our managers will talk, whatever. But man, what a great way, what a legacy, what a model in the sport. It’s unbelievable.”

Of course, you never know; maybe Khabib will change his mind about retiring. But, based off everything he’s been through this past year, what he’s accomplished in his career, it certainly seems like we’ve seen him fight for the last time.

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