Georges St-Pierre has responded to Kamaru Usman saying he would "love" to fight GSP in the days leading up to his victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251.
Before you think Usman was trying to get cheap publicity, it's more that he picked the UFC legend as a dream opponent, saying: "I would love GSP... A crazy stat I just found out: after Saturday night, after defeating Masvidal, it would have taken [me] the same 1,875 days that it took GSP to get 12 consecutive wins.
"We're tied for that record and what way to break that record than fighting the man who had that record previously?"
Well, GSP sounds tempted... but it does not appear that the Nigerian Nightmare's 13th UFC fight will be against the former two-weight world champ.
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"It's a mixed feeling," admitted St-Pierre in an interview with TMZ Sports. "For sure, sometimes I'm watching the fights and I'm thinking: 'Man, I think I can beat these guys!'
"But after I go home at night and I'm thinking about all those crazy thoughts, and I'm like: 'I'm gonna be 40 years old soon. Do I really wanna go back and do a hardcore training camp of two months? Put myself in jail, so to speak, and get ready for hell?' I'm like, 'No, I don't!'"
The Canadian added that a powerful reason not to return to the Octagon is the number of MMA fighters who unfortunately stay in the sport too long, damaging their legacy and health.
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"It's best if I stay retired," he concludes. Well, there goes our dream fight.
In fact, a bromance seems more likely than a grudge match, as GSP thanks Usman for the "complimentary" style of his challenge.
The 33-year-old UFC welterweight champion had praised St-Pierre saying: "He cemented his legacy - and that's why he sits at the top as one of the best ever."
Usman adds that being viewed as a legend like GSP is where he "aims to be" in the future. Certainly after three successful UFC title fights and an unbeaten run stretching back seven years, Usman is on the right track.
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GSP, meanwhile, may not be interested in Kamaru's playful call-out - but he has shown a real interest in Khabib Nurmagomedov. In May, SPORTbible spoke exclusively to GSP - and he was very vocal on the challenge the undefeated lightweight champ would present.
"For a fighter the most exciting thing to do is often the scariest. Khabib has almost an aura of invincibility now. Fighting him is an opportunity to become a legend," said GSP.
"Before I retired we tried to organise this fight and Khabib wanted it. We tried really hard. Unfortunately, the UFC didn't want it. They had other plans for Khabib.
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"But never say never. If I ever come back it needs to be on my terms and I'd want to take it one fight at a time."
It does seem unlikely we'll see the 39-year-old back in the Octagon after his dream farewell, beating Michael Bisping for the middleweight belt in 2013. But if the Canadian icon suddenly woke up and wanted to fight Khabib - or Usman - you can bet it would be one of the biggest UFC events ever.
All imagery: PA Images
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