It would be a fight that would no doubt break every record in the UFC.
Georges St-Pierre’s appearance in the crowd at UFC 196 set plenty of tongues wagging as speculation over the legendary Canadian’s possible return to the Octagon swung into overdrive.
The former welterweight champion is believed to weighing up whether to end his two-and-a-half year exile from the sport, but coach Firas Zahabi says that will only happen when GSP is presented with a challenge that really gts him excited.
And what fight could be bigger than one against the UFC’s current leading man, Conor McGregor?
Had McGregor beaten Nate Diaz in the main event that night, a 170lb title fight against Robbie Lawler was seemingly on the cards, but Zahabi admitted that the idea of St-Pierre taking on the Dubliner is something that could definitely appeal.
“I think he has the itch to do it but it would have to be a fight that he is excited to train for,” the Tristar coach told Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour. “He’s done so much training in his life, I don’t think there’s many fights that excite him.
“If McGregor had won, he’s just such a guy that stirs the pot like nobody else, it could have been crazy if he called out Georges, it could have been crazy if Nate had called out Georges.
“Any of that could have been motivating for Georges, but nothing happened. But Georges was just there [at UFC 196] to see the fights. McGregor was supposed to fight Rafael dos Anjos and could have become the first person to carry two belts and Georges wanted to be there to see that.”
The other big fight that has been mooted is a welterweight title fight against Lawler, who is yet to be slated for his next defence.
“I don’t know if that motivates Georges,” Zahabi said. “Lawler has lost to guys that Georges has already beat. I don’t know if he wants to be champion again, I haven’t asked him.
“You’re going to have to defend the title over and over, I don’t know if he wants to get into that whole world of going for the title and defending the title. It’s really up to him.
“If you ask me, I think he cannot stay away. He’ll eventually get bitten by the bug and he’ll eventually do something spontaneous.
“I don’t know if he will come back this year, but if I had to venture I would say yes.”
