Khabib Nurmagomedov Explains Why GSP Vs. Usman Is Like Mike Tyson Vs. Muhammad Ali

Khabib Nurmagomedov thinks the idea of Georges St-Pierre sharing the Octagon with Kamaru Usman resembles that of a fantasy fight between two of the greatest boxers of all time.

While being away from the sport he once dominated, Nurmagomedov sat down with UFC Russia to weigh in on the talked-about St-Pierre vs. Usman fight.

According to Nurmagomedov, should the two formidable welterweights take on each other today, Usman will surely prevail.

However, if the fight took place more than a decade ago, GSP would give “The Nigerian Nightmare” some problems.

“Right now, I think it is [Kamaru] Usman because it is his prime time,” Nurmagomedov examined. “What was the prime time of GSP? I believe it was 2009-2010. I think it would have been tough for Usman to fight with him back then. I think St-Pierre was the best at that time. So 2021 and 2010 are different times and a different level of competition.”

What’s even more interesting is that Nurmagomedov is certain nobody could really come up with a precise analysis of St-Pierre vs. Usman as it is with a super-fight between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali.

“It’d be wrong to compare it,” he pointed out. “[GSP vs. Usman] It is like to think who’d win: Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali? No one knows and no one will ever know.”

The hype of the St-Pierre vs. Usman fight reached its crescendo earlier this year.

However, St-Pierre himself shut it all down by explaining that even facing the reigning UFC welterweight champion isn’t worth a return at this point in his life.

“To go back and give three months of my life in a training camp to get a win over Kamaru Usman doesn’t get me motivated,” St-Pierre stressed. “I don’t think there’s anything that would get me motivated to go back to competition now. I’m not sure.”

“Try to put yourself in my shoes and try to come back,” the 40-year-old continued. “First, if I come back to fight Kamaru Usman, I would literally have to leave the country. I would have to bring my coaches somewhere, find a base camp, fly in training partners to get ready for Usman. But leaving my home, I don’t want to do it. I’m healthy, I’m wealthy. It’s not appealing to me to lose three months of my life, the stress, to try and get a win over Usman.”