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New York, April 15: Georges St-Pierre understands why UFC were reluctant to grant him a mouth-watering bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov and said it would take a "180-degree turnaround" to convince him to fight again.
It has been almost two and a half years since GSP last fought in the Octagon when he defeated Michael Bisping to win the middleweight title.
Just 34 days later the Canadian had vacated the belt, which perhaps explains the company's reluctance to push ahead with a bout with lightweight champion Khabib.
St-Pierre, who last year announced his retirement, pushed for a fight fans have been clamouring for but says he can see it from the viewpoint of UFC.
"For me, it was because I considered Khabib right now the best fighter in the world," he told ESPN. "And he wanted to fight me as well. So, I thought it was a good fan fight.
"It you look on the UFC's side, if I put myself in their shoes, they didn't want to take the risk of me winning the title and then vacating again."
Always tried to look like I was not afraid in the Octagon. Feels the same on my roof checking the gutters, I hate heights!!!
Évidemment je ne recommande à personne de monter prendre l’air sur son toit! pic.twitter.com/QTBfp5PivP
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) March 28, 2020
A fight did not materialise, so is that it for GSP?
"It would take a 180-degree turnaround," he said. "I'm the happiest man in the world. An athlete has a window. You want to retire from the sport. You don't want the sport retiring you."
GSP is a candidate to be considered the greatest of all time given his 26-2 record and the fact that he has won titles in two divisions, so it may surprise many to hear he approached each fight with fear.
Recalling his work with a sports psychologist to alter that mindset, GSP added: "[He said] 'You're not scared, you're excited.' I'm like, 'Dude, I'm excited if I haven't eaten for three days, and I know I'm about to eat my favourite dish. I'm excited if I'm seeing a beautiful, naked woman.
"I'm excited if it's minus-15 in Montreal, and I know that next week I'm going on vacation to a beach in a warm, exotic place. I'm not excited to go fight in a cage against another psychopath that's going to try to kill me and maybe I'm going to be humiliated. I'm not excited about that. I'm scared.'"
