4 reasons why Georges St-Pierre should be next for the winner of Khabib vs. McGregor

UFC 229 is almost upon us, and with it, the biggest fight in UFC history – according to Dana White – as Khabib Nurmagomedov defends his UFC Lightweight title against the former champion – and the man who never lost the belt inside the Octagon – Conor McGregor.

Regardless of who wins, though, after UFC 229 is said and done the show must go on. That means the winner of this massive fight must find another equally massive opponent to take on sometime in the future. And despite there being a number of potential contenders at 155lbs, really there’s only one man for that job – former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Here are 4 reasons why ‘GSP’ should be next in line for McGregor or Khabib.

#1 It’d be the biggest fight in UFC history, period

Khabib vs. McGregor is big, but a fight between the winner and GSP would be bigger still

Ever since the Khabib vs. Conor fight was signed for UFC 229, Dana White and the promotion have been pushing it as the biggest fight in UFC history. White has even claimed that he expects the show to draw more than 2 million pay-per-view buys. But will it really be the biggest? Well, it’s possible – McGregor is certainly the biggest draw in promotional history and Khabib is his most interesting opponent. But until the buy-rate comes in, we just don’t know. After all, Nurmagomedov on his own hasn’t really drawn hugely before.

That’s the fascinating thing about McGregor – for all of his drawing power, he’s never actually fought against a fellow huge draw – Nate Diaz only rose to fame due to the fights with the Irishman. So we don’t really know how big a fight between him and another megastar could be. Put him against GSP, though – the man who Dana White once called “the king of pay-per-view” – and we’d soon find out.

I don’t think there can be any doubt that a McGregor/St-Pierre clash would be the biggest fight in UFC history, period. Not only would it see two of the biggest superstars in promotional history face off, but it’d also be a fight between two of the UFC’s all-time biggest drawing cards. Basically, it’d make millions of dollars – and that’s partly why the UFC should make it happen.

#2 Will Conor or Khabib really want to fight Ferguson instead?

Would Tony Ferguson be a desirable opponent for Khabib or Conor?

Before Nurmagomedov and McGregor face off at UFC 229, the de facto #1 contender at 155lbs – Tony Ferguson – will fight in the co-main event against former champion Anthony Pettis. And although Pettis is clearly a live opponent, ‘El Cucuy’ should probably go into the fight as a major betting favourite. And for good reason – he’s massively skilled in all areas, is incredibly tough and has won 10 UFC fights in a row.

But should Ferguson indeed come out on top, will the winner of McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov really want to fight him next? By all rights, they should, as he’d be the legitimate #1 contender and formerly held the Interim Lightweight title, too. But realistically, there are more factors at play.

Firstly, Ferguson is not a proven drawing card – his lone pay-per-view main event at UFC 216 drew just 200k buys, and he isn’t a notable trash talker able to really build a big fight. And secondly, McGregor and Nurmagomedov may both have individual, specific reasons to avoid a fight with him.

For Khabib, the fight with Ferguson has already been booked 4 times since 2015, and each time it’s been cancelled due to injuries. Dana White has already stated he wouldn’t want to attempt to make the “cursed fight” again, so why would Khabib want to sign up for it?

For McGregor meanwhile, the fear would be that Ferguson – who has a longer reach and a better ground game than the Irishman – is simply a bad stylistic match. Conor has fought anyone who’s stepped in front of him for most of his career but now he’s at the stage where he can pick and choose – so would he really want to fight ‘El Cucuy’ after struggling with a taller striker in Nate Diaz?

Assuming Ferguson isn’t the go-to fight then, who would be? Nate Diaz is a possibility, but he’s got to get through Dustin Poirier – if he even shows up at UFC 230 – and Poirier poses many of the same problems as Ferguson. Realistically, there’s no logical next fight, which is why a left field opponent like GSP would work.

#3 It could be done at a Catchweight

GSP has never fought at 155lbs, but could probably make 165lbs

One big issue that would have to be looked at for a potential GSP vs. Conor/Khabib fight would be the issue of weight. St-Pierre of course fought his entire career at 170lbs before a move to 185lbs for his fight with Michael Bisping – a move he’s claimed damaged his health and one he’d never want to make again. He has claimed that he could make 155lbs, but that’s a massive question mark for a guy in his late 30’s.

The good thing, though? The fight could easily be done at a Catchweight of around 160lbs or even 165lbs. If St-Pierre believes he can make 155lbs, then either of those weights would be relatively simple to hit, and it’s not too much of a step up in weight for Nurmagomedov – who has struggled to make 155lbs in the past – or McGregor, who fought Nate Diaz twice at 170lbs, either.

What makes this idea even better is that it’d work for the UFC, too. If a fight with St-Pierre were booked to take place outside of the Lightweight limit, it’d make it a non-title ‘superfight’. That would mean that if GSP were to win, then the promotion wouldn’t end up with the same situation they had when he beat Bisping – that is, a champion who has no intention of defending or even keeping hold of his title.

Sure, it’d devalue the UFC title somewhat, but the promotion themselves have shown they’re not above that anyway with the amount of questionable interim titles they’ve introduced recently. A Catchweight fight would make sense for all parties.

#4 It’s the only fight that makes sense for St-Pierre

A fight with McGregor or Khabib could cement GSP's legacy - and make him millions of dollars too

Ever since his one-and-done return against Michael Bisping last November, St-Pierre has stated that he’s not retired, but he’s only willing to return to take a fight that helps to cement his legacy. The main fight that could do that would be a clash with current Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, but UFC President Dana White has shot that idea down on numerous occasions as he clearly doesn’t like the idea. And the fact that GSP hasn’t really pushed for it suggests he doesn’t like it either.

Anderson Silva would work as a long-awaited ‘superfight’ that fans have wanted to see for years, but realistically that boat sailed away some time in 2010/11, and St-Pierre has also stated that he doesn’t want to fight Silva now anyway due to his controversial history with PEDs. And he’s also claimed a fight with Nate Diaz wouldn’t work as he’s already beaten Nate’s older brother Nick.

So what fight would work? The only one that makes sense – coincidence or not – would also be the one that would draw the most money, facing either McGregor or Nurmagomedov. If St-Pierre could beat either man, it’d essentially mean he’d have sat atop three divisions in the UFC, even if the fight were at a Catchweight. And that’d cement his legacy as he wishes, while also putting a hell of a lot of money in his pocket – which may be the true reason for his return, if we’re frank.