Abdelaziz: GSP vs. Khabib can happen, if ...

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Dominance MMA founder Ali Abdelaziz spoke recently with Brett Okamoto about, among other things, a potential fight between his client UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and the welterweight G.O.A.T. Georges St-Pierre. 

“He’s the greatest fighter of all time. And he’s a very good friend of mine, I love Georges,” said Abdelaziz, as transcribed by Nick Atkin for SCMP. “Khabib is my brother, I’m very close with him. If Georges St-Pierre wanted to fight, it’s very simple: we can make this happen.”

“You don’t think I can make this fight? In 2017, Georges St-Pierre wanted to fight Michael Bisping for the middleweight title. Dana White didn’t believe him, and I got involved as a friend. I had to convince [UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby to convince Dana to meet Georges.

“Georges flew to Las Vegas. I didn’t manage him, I was helping him as a friend. He had dinner with me, Sean Shelby, and Dana. Dana was like, ‘This guy don’t wanna fight’, but then 30 minutes into the conversation, Georges went to the bathroom. Dana said, ‘He’s out of his mind, he’s crazy’.

“Georges is out of his mind, he’s a little bit nutty. Georges started getting up, shouting, walking around the table and just got very emotional. He always have a chip on his shoulder, it’s real. Dana see the reality.”

“If Georges wants this fight to really happen, he has to do three things: pick up the phone and call me, he can call Dana directly. Dana White respects Georges St-Pierre, he likes him a lot. Dana White doesn’t like too many people. Then he [St-Pierre] have to make 155 pounds, and he have to communicate.

“He have a good team, but he always can call me. Everybody can ask what happened in 2017. I communicate people, that’s it. But all the time talk about Georges wanna fight this guy – hey, send a location, like Khabib said. Send a phone number, we can make it happen.”

“Georges is not a guy who wants to disrespect other people. People talk every couple month about Georges St-Pierre but I respect Justin. I respect Tony. I’ll put Georges before Conor every day of the week, but I’m not gonna put Georges before Justin Gaethje, before Tony Ferguson, because this is a deserving guy.

“Right now it’s about Justin Gaethje fighting Tony Ferguson, and knocking his head clean off. People said Tony Ferguson and [Khabib] is a curse. Guess what? May 9, the spell on the fight is gonna be dissolved, because I believe Justin Gaethje is gonna put him to sleep. And now we won’t want to talk about Tony any more. That’s it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akh4oxObLIw&feature=emb_title

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I’m looking forward to this fight but he’s right that Justin could win. I hate it either way really, make fights and I wanted to see Khabib try his hand at both these guys. If Justin wins it doesn’t mean Tony isn’t capable of doing something with Khabib and vice versa.

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Mkk11 -

I’m looking forward to this fight but he’s right that Justin could win. I hate it either way really, make fights and I wanted to see Khabib try his hand at both these guys. If Justin wins it doesn’t mean Tony isn’t capable of doing something with Khabib and vice versa.

s t y l e s* make fights

not sure why it's not letting me edit that in there

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Let Tony and Justin fight. Then, the fight wiht Khabib and GSP must be at 170lbs. GSP does not need to cut to 155. Also, if Khabib loses, he is still the money fight at 155, undefeated. He needs to fight Justin, both will make a fortune. Then Khabib retires, he doesnt like to fight. 

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jesus3 -

Let Tony and Justin fight. Then, the fight wiht Khabib and GSP must be at 170lbs. GSP does not need to cut to 155. Also, if Khabib loses, he is still the money fight at 155, undefeated. He needs to fight Justin, both will make a fortune. Then Khabib retires, he doesnt like to fight. 

I think GSP wants to cut to 155 just to be the man.

But if we're doing the "lets not cut weight thing"... I'm on board with that too... but for everybody.

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Mkk11 - 

I’m looking forward to this fight but he’s right that Justin could win. I hate it either way really, make fights and I wanted to see Khabib try his hand at both these guys. If Justin wins it doesn’t mean Tony isn’t capable of doing something with Khabib and vice versa.

Tony will dispatch Justin quickly just as a message to Khabib that he can run, but he cant hide from EL CUCUY.

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Ali is a known liar. I don't believe a word he says. 

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Ali is a known liar. I don't believe a word he says.

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This guy is extremely high on my most hated people in the universe list.  

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What a con man this dude is. And fighters keep falling for it.

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Ali is the greatest manager in combat sports history.

They should do the fight at a catchweight. 160lbs

That way Dana won't get pissed if GSP wins and runs away with the belt again.

Khabib by stoppage tho.

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jesus3 -

Let Tony and Justin fight. Then, the fight wiht Khabib and GSP must be at 170lbs. GSP does not need to cut to 155. Also, if Khabib loses, he is still the money fight at 155, undefeated. He needs to fight Justin, both will make a fortune. Then Khabib retires, he doesnt like to fight. 

They can meet in the middle at a catch weight. Then Dana doesn't have to worry about the belt if gsp wins

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GSP v Khabib, open-weight on Fight Island.

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NEWSFLASH - 
jesus3 -

Let Tony and Justin fight. Then, the fight wiht Khabib and GSP must be at 170lbs. GSP does not need to cut to 155. Also, if Khabib loses, he is still the money fight at 155, undefeated. He needs to fight Justin, both will make a fortune. Then Khabib retires, he doesnt like to fight. 

They can meet in the middle at a catch weight. Then Dana doesn't have to worry about the belt if gsp wins

Khabib will never fight above 155.

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Captain Canuck - 

Ali is a known liar. I don't believe a word he says. 

While this statement is true…He is also known for getting his clients the top fights/money. Its why he has the roster of clients that he does. Somehow, he gets shit done. Me thinks he has something on Dana…but hey, if it works for his fighters so be it.

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dizzro88 -

This guy is extremely high on my most hated people in the universe list.  

Kind of missed this guy's whole background. 

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I say a catchweight 163lbs.right down the middle.  Both guys save face if they lose. 

   What was the weight for lightweight in EliteXC way back? 160? Nick won that title. That could work. 

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BostonCharm -

I say a catchweight 163lbs.right down the middle.  Both guys save face if they lose. 

   What was the weight for lightweight in EliteXC way back? 160? Nick won that title. That could work. 

162.5

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GSP wants a third belt. If the belt isn't on the line then he has no interest in the fight.

And Dana isn't interested in giving him another title fight if he isn't committed to defending it.

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Nytron -

Ali is the greatest manager in combat sports history.

They should do the fight at a catchweight. 160lbs

That way Dana won't get pissed if GSP wins and runs away with the belt again.

Khabib by stoppage tho.

I don't disagree that he is the most powerful manager today, but this is not the ordinary fighter we are discussing, it's Georges St. Pierre. GSP does not need a manager to book a fight. If Dana White has two brain cells remaining, he picks up the phone immediately on a GSP call.

Also no need to goad or embarrass GSP into a fight by saying he does not want to fight or he's lost the will to fight. Just let him come to his own acceptance.

GSP coming back to fight anyone, would automatically be the biggest fight of the year.