Hence the possibility of lbs came to the picture. However, the lightweight champion is adamant to stick to his weight class even if the GSP fight happens. During the open workout in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov made it clear that he is not moving up to another weight class to fight GSP or anyone else.
I feel I can make this weight. This is my weight. And they never asked me. He is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete. But St-Pierre has admitted that mixed martial arts has evolved leaps and bounds over the last decade.
Contenders are more well-rounded and divisions are deeper. St-Pierre was able to secure a UFC title shot in just his third appearance for the promotion.
Usman was and three years into his UFC career before fighting for a championship. This 'Mt. Rushmore' list is based on what a fighter has done, not what he might do by the end of his career. But in Usman's case, it's hard not to look ahead. Because he is already, undeniably, one of the top four welterweights in this sport's history -- and in my opinion, he's already, undeniably, No.
That begs the question of whether he will eventually become No. Even though some of his potential title fights in the near future are rematches -- Masvidal, Colby Covington , Leon Edwards -- there is plenty to gain from them.
And I know for a fact he wants to be active right now. Within the next 12 months, it's not hard to envision a scenario in which Usman defends his pound championship three more times bringing his number of defenses to six , and potentially assume the title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. If he does those two things That's what comes to mind when I think of Tyron Woodley, who I don't think was appreciated enough during his title reign from to Maybe it was because the first two names he called out when he won the title - via an incredible knockout of the historically unknockoutable is that a word?
I think that might have rubbed some people the wrong way, including the UFC brass. Which leads me to another potential reason: it never truly felt like the UFC got behind Woodley because they butted heads too many times. I'd love to know, but that's how it always came across. Some guys connect with the audience, others don't. Woodley was the latter, and that is a real shame because he was a tremendous fighter with an even better backstory. GSP had 11 victories in welterweight title fights, while Hughes had nine.
But he's tied with Usman for now and had more than Lawler and Hendricks. Lots of talk these days surrounds whether Usman is close to surpassing GSP for the greatest welterweight of all time. He's nowhere near that conversation yet. He's in the Woodley conversation at the moment, and that's a great place to be. Woodley obviously won't be surpassing Usman.
His UFC run might be done. And we will miss him when he's gone. GSP elaborated on the issue with the weight class. You know what I mean? I never been a big welterweight and I could go down, but it would be hard. I am not a big fan of cutting weight either. Obviously, fighting in an unfamiliar weight class will make a fighter hesitant, especially if you are going up against a beast like Khabib Nurmagomedov.
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