‘Biggest fight in UFC history’: Usman talks hypothetical matchup with Khabib

Kamaru Usman is interviewed backstage at the UFC 261 ceremonial weigh-in at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. | Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

“It absolutely would be the biggest fight in UFC history. The problem is, it wouldn’t happen.”

Kamaru Usman thinks a welterweight showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov would be the biggest fight in UFC history. There’s just one problem: It’s probably never going to happen.

But still, it’s fun to speculate, right?

Usman gave his thoughts on the hypothetical matchup in a recent interview with TMZ Sports, claiming that there is more chance of George St-Pierre coming out of retirement to fight him than Khabib ever lacing up the gloves again.

“It absolutely would be the biggest fight in UFC history,” Usman, who recently defended his welterweight title against Masvidal, said. “The problem is, it wouldn’t happen. That’s just hypothetical… and I’ve lost faith in this one as well. I think you have more of a chance of making Kamaru Usman and Georges St-Pierre happen before Kamaru Usman and Khabib Nurmagomedov. That one just won’t happen.”

“I don’t think there’s a lot of people in this line saying, ‘We want this guy.’ There’s not a lot of people. More power to Georges. Georges is doing wonderful things, amazing things. I’m impressed, I’m so happy for him. Right now, I’ve said it before, I’m just blessed to be in this time, to really be maximizing my potential and just taking it in full stride. So, I’m blessed and I’m thankful. But these guys know that they definitely need to be worried, because you give me adequate time, everybody will be hurt.”

Khabib, the former UFC lightweight champion, retired following his submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 and is adamant that he will never set foot in the Octagon again. Usman, meanwhile, is on track to becoming the greatest welterweight champion in UFC history, recently dispatching of Jorge Masvidal via second-round KO in the UFC 261 main event.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is expected to return to the cage later this year to defend his title against Colby Covington, whom he beat via fifth-round TKO in a 2019 Fight of the Year candidate at UFC 245.