Zahabi: The best matchup for GSP is against Khabib at 165 pounds

Tristar Gym coach Firas Zahabi talks about the 165-pound division that involves a possible matchup between Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

There have been loud talks about a new 165-pound division in the UFC. It had been brought up as a supposed stipulation for the would-be fight between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz at UFC 230 last November, only to be shut down by Dana White himself.

Despite its seeming impossibility as of the moment, it is an option that renowned coaches like Firas Zahabi continue to look into.

“As of what I understand right now, there is no 165 [pound division],” Zahabi told YouTube channel MMA Betz backstage at UFC 232 late last month (transcript via BJPenn.com). “It’s a ‘maybe’ from what I understand. It’s a rumor I should say, and if that happens I think it could be very interesting for Georges. I’m hoping that rumor is true.”

If the new weight class does open up, Zahabi already has a matchup in mind for St-Pierre.

“I think the best matchup would be, for sure, Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. If they were to create a 165-pound division, I think it would make a lot of sense to have Georges St-Pierre and Khabib be the first ones to fight for that title.”

Khabib is still awaiting the decision from the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding a possible sanction for his involvement in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl last October. It will all be dealt with at the Commission meeting towards the end of the month, and until then, he and opponent Conor McGregor will remain in the sidelines under indefinite suspension.

As for St-Pierre, Zahabi says he is back in training “as usual”, and is looking to make a return sometime within the year.