Khabib Nurmagomedov willing to fight GSP despite retirement talk

Reports are swirling that Georges St-Pierre is planning to announce his retirement this week after he failed to work out a deal for a fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, but Khabib says he is willing to help make the bout happen.

A French-language report from Benoit Beaudoin of RDS claims St-Pierre will announce his retirement in a press conference at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Thursday.

BREAKING: @BenBeaudoinRDS reports that Georges St-Pierre plans on announcing his retirement at a press conference tomorrow morning at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

This comes as a result of failed negotiations for a bout between him and lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. https://t.co/d1cfHGIQvY

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) February 20, 2019

Shortly after that report surfaced, Khabib took to Instagram and said he wants to fight GSP in November. He also said he grew up watching St-Pierre and has “nothing but respect” for the former middleweight and welterweight champion.

View this post on Instagram

Let’s do it in November. After this fight you can retire. I grow up on your fights, and have nothing but respect for you, and I believe showed that to you George when you were in Moscow. But, it would be honor for me to share Octagon with one of the greatest fighters of all time. Let’s do it 155 lbs, or I give away 5lbs to you, cause you newer done 155. Well, it’s your choice 155 or 160, Montreal, NYC, Moscow or Abu Dhabi. Send me location my Friend #GSPvsKHABIB #ufc #mma #history #RUSSIAvsCANADA

A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Feb 20, 2019 at 9:31am PST

Khabib said he is willing to fight at 155 or 160 pounds, and he also offered to let GSP set the location. However, things may not be as simple as the two agreeing to a fight, as UFC president Dana White said last year that GSP has to face a contender before he can earn a shot at Nurmagomedov.

GSP basically walked away from mixed martial arts in 2013, but he returned in 2017 to defeat Michael Bisping and win the UFC middleweight title. He hasn’t fought since and has vacated the belt due to a bout with ulcerative colitis. There was talk last year about matching St-Pierre with a different opponent, but he was not interested in that.

It’s unclear if Khabib’s willingness to fight GSP will be enough for him to put his retirement on hold, especially since White previously said St-Pierre can’t just jump over contenders to face Khabib.