Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has his next fight booked but already has made sure to cover his bases in case a certain legend wants to come out of retirement for a fight.
On Tuesday, after the promotion announced that Nurmagomedov will face interim titleholder Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that the booking came with a new UFC contract.
While terms were not disclosed, Abdelaziz said the deal includes a clause in case Nurmagomedov fights former two-division champion Georges St-Pierre. What that entails is unclear, but it likely means financial terms surrounding a potential Nurmagomedov vs. St-Pierre superfight could be renegotiated.
St-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) retired earlier this year, but not before trying to negotiate a fight with Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC). UFC President Dana White, however, wasn’t keen on the idea. Nurmagomedov, who originally called for a St-Pierre fight after UFC 223 in April 2018, tried to get St-Pierre to reconsider when he offered him a fight at lightweight or a 160-pound catchweight later this year, but St-Pierre followed through with his retirement.
“It takes three people to make a fight – the two fighters and the organization,” St-Pierre said at his retirement news conference. “And it didn’t happen. I wish Khabib the best of luck. I’m a big fan. I think he’s the best fighter right now, and I look forward to seeing his next fight.”
Nurmagomedov, whose suspension for his role in the UFC 229 brawl expires next month, will unify the 155-pound titles against Poirier in the UFC 242 main event on Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi.
For more on UFC 242, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
