St. Pierre plans a duel with Khabib, but admits: 'I don't have the same motivation as before'

GSP could fight again in 2019 (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook GeorgesStPierre)

If the fans of Georges St Pierre hope to see the idol in action again, the wish may come true. However, if it depends on the Canadian, it will not be in the near future. In an interview with ESPN, the former UFC champion admitted that he is aiming for a return to the octagon to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he considered that he first needed to regain his motivation to return to acting professionally.

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“The motivation is not the same as it used to be. I don't have the same motivation as before to schedule (events) again and fight to reach another title. I'm done with it. I did this for many years. You reach a point in your career where you want to do things differently. That's why this fight with (Michael) Bisping was different, because it was a super fight. That's what I'm looking for. (…) What excites me most is when I can be the first to do something. When something can't be done and people doubt me. He is a great champion and, in terms of legacy, I cannot think of a better athlete to face now than Khabib”, declared the legendary fighter, who revealed that he needed more time to prepare physically and mentally to compete.

“The big issue to fight is the symptoms of colitis. I have to get off my medication. When I have the measure of where I want to go, I will make the decision. Now I'm not ready to sign a fight deal. Mentally, I don’t want to fight right now,” she said.

When asked if the high salary would be an extra motivation, St. Pierre was sincere in saying that his financial condition is stabilized, including in the case of permanent retirement. For the Canadian, the most important thing is the fighting spirit.

“I have different companies that I am involved with. Different properties too. In terms of money, I don't need it (anymore). I left (the sport) on top, healthy and rich, and I want to continue like this (…). The competitor in me wants me to come back someday. I want to come back as a competitor, but I need to listen to logic too. It needs to be worth it,” he concluded.

Georges St Pierre He last entered the octagon in November 2017, when he finished Michael Bisping and won the middleweight title (under 84kg), which GSP himself relinquished a month later. Previously, he had not fought since November 2013, when he crashed John hendricks, and announced his retirement from MMA. He has a professional record of 26 wins and two losses. In the UFC, he has accumulated 21 triumphs and two setbacks, with nine title defenses in the welterweight category, which made him the most dominant champion in the history of the 77kg division.

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