Khabib facing Georges St-Pierre next, not Tony Ferguson, says UFC champion’s manager

Consensus would have it that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson is the obvious fight to make next for the UFC lightweight title.

Ferguson certainly wants it, and has even demanded the fight in December, while Khabib and UFC president Dana White have both said “El Cucuy” is next in line.

But Khabib’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has suggested a dream fight with UFC legend Georges St-Pierre could be next for the undefeated Russian.

“Nobody really cares about what Tony says, nobody gives a s*** really. As far as I know, GSP is next, Tony’s not next,” Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports.

“This is what I want. Tony doesn’t get what he wants. We get what Khabib wants. If Khabib calls me and tells me he wants Georges St-Pierre, then Georges St-Pierre will be next.”

Abdelaziz is a close friend of St-Pierre (26-2), and said he knows the retired former welterweight and middleweight champion wants the fight.

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“If you’re gonna compare, Tony Ferguson beat a whole bunch of guys but he’s never been a champion,” Abdelaziz said. “If Khabib is gonna fight for legacy, a fight with Georges St-Pierre will be a huge fight.

“Dana White is a businessman, that’s why he’s the best promoter of all time. I think he and Georges St-Pierre would make a lot more money, a lot more headlines, people will care more. It’s a fight of the greatest of all time.”

The 38-year-old St-Pierre came out of his first retirement after a four-year lay-off to beat Michael Bisping for the middleweight title in November 2017, becoming just the fourth male UFC fighter to be a champion in two weight classes.

But the Canadian, who fought most of his career at 170 pounds, relinquished the title and said he was retiring again after failing to reach an agreement with the UFC to fight Khabib.

“People said Georges cannot make the fight; actually Georges walks around at lesser weight than Khabib. Georges walks around at 186, Khabib walks around at 190. I have no doubt in my mind he can make the weight, 100 per cent,” Abdelaziz said.

“It will be great to see two legends fighting each other. In 2019, it can happen – in Canada, at a 60,000-seat arena. January, February, March, April, it doesn’t matter.”