GSP says timing isn't right for Khabib fight

Many assumed Khabib Nurmagomedov would jump at the chance to take on Conor McGregor or Tony Ferguson in his first defense of the UFC lightweight belt after the week he had in Brooklyn, but Russia’s first undisputed champion in the promotion had another name in mind.

Nurmagomedov called for a fight with former UFC middleweight and welterweight king Georges St-Pierre; however, he didn’t get the response he was looking for.

"I feel UFC and Khabib got unfinished business before I try to make a step in here to go for the 155 title," St-Pierre told Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting late Saturday night.

St-Pierre is currently on an indefinite hiatus from the UFC after suffering from colitis following his November win over Michael Bisping for the middleweight title - a bout that ended a four-year break for the Montreal native.

Nurmagomedov isn’t expected to be back in the Octagon until the fall as he plans to observe Ramadan. He specified in his postfight interview that he wanted GSP at Madison Square Garden, where the UFC has held an event in each of the last two Novembers.

The new lightweight champ says he doesn’t want to leave his weight class to fight St-Pierre - he wants the future Hall of Famer to come down to him.

"No, please, not 170, with Georges St-Pierre? No," Nurmagomedov said when asked what weight class he’d like to meet GSP at during the post-event press conference.

"When I talk with my father one year ago he told me his dream fight is me vs. Georges St-Pierre ... When I grew up, I watch his fights, all fights with my father, and he greatest athlete who ever compete in UFC. Middleweight, welterweight champion. And I hear about he want to come and fight in 155, take this belt, make history, become UFC three-division champion."

Nurmagomedov says St-Pierre would be the best fight for his own legacy, but acknowledged that the 36-year-old may not return to the Octagon.

"He already greatest athlete in UFC. Why he come back? For what?" he said.