This past Saturday, Kamaru Usman successfully defended his welterweight title with a five-round unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251. It was Usman’s second successful title defense and also tied him for the most consecutive wins in the welterweight division, 12, a record he now shares with all-time great Georges St-Pierre. And given that impressive achievement, if Usman had his druthers, the two would fight to break the tie.

Speaking to TMZ Sports recently, Usman said he’d like to fight the former welterweight and middleweight champion next.

“Honestly, I would have to say Georges St-Pierre,” Usman said. “Right now we’re tied for the record- most consecutive wins in the welterweight division - and Georges is a tough guy, Georges is a legend. Georges is a guy who has put his time in and is considered one of the best and that’s where I aim to be. Georges can still do it. He proved it, what, two years ago when he came back, that he can still do it. And I feel that he’s still able to do it. He’s still able to come in and be that opponent where people are unsure. Like, ‘You know what? We don’t know if Usman’s got this one.’ I think Georges St-Pierre can be that guy and that’s what I’m looking for. Those are what champions are made of. When you get that feeling, ‘I’m not sure. This one’s a tough one. I don’t know how this one is gonna go but I’m gonna damn well go out there and compete and see what happens.’ I think Georges St-Pierre can be that guy and if Georges wants to do it, Georges can get it too.”

St-Pierre famously walked away from the sport in his prime, vacating the welterweight title unexpectedly in 2013. After winning the title in 2016, former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley often attempted to draw St-Pierre back with public call outs but was unsuccessful. However, in 2017, St-Pierre did make hie return, winning the middleweight title from Michael Bisping before vacating it just 33 days later due to health concerns. Unfortunately for Usman, those health concerns, and a lack of interesting options, led St-Pierre to officially retire from MMA last year. But like Woodley, Usman is perhaps hoping to lure the former champion back for one last dance.

“Georges knows what he’s done with his legacy,” Usman said. “He’s cemented his legacy. He’s put in the time, he’s put in the work, and that’s why he sits at the top as one of the best ever. So I’d love to test myself. I’m a martial artist just like he was a martial artist and if he still has some fire burning in that oven, let’s test it out. Let’s go out and see if he can still do it.”

Usman’s wishes seem unlikely to bear fruit. St-Pierre, who will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this year, has repeatedly said that he is happy in retirement and that the only fight that could make him consider it would be a bout with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. So that means Usman’s next bout will likely come against the man he was originally supposed to face at UFC 251, Gilbert Burns. And if that’s the case, well, it may not be as exciting or lucrative as a GSP fight, but Usman is willing all the same.

“If it is, it is. I don’t discriminate when it comes to an opponent,” Usman concluded. “That’s one thing that the company, you can quote me on that. I don’t say ‘No’ to anybody. If the company feels like that’s the next guy or if it’s GSP or if it’s Leon Edwards, then that’s the next guy. My job as the undisputed champion is to stay champion. So whoever they put in front of me, their dreams of being champion quickly turn into nightmares.”

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Next. Petr Yan believes Aljamain Sterling deserves next title shot, eyes October return.

Thirsty. Dominick Reyes: Jon Jones should be ‘stripped’ of title if he’s not going to fight.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC Fight Island 2 Post Fight Show.

The A-Side Live Chat.

Bellator’s top-10 bantamweight finishes.

Petr Yan returns home after title victory.

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LISTEN UP

6th Round. Immediate post-fight analysis of UFC on Fight Island 2.

Severe MMA. Post-fight breakdown of UFC on Fight Island 2.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

What a legend.

Taking the loss like a champ.

Less than pleased.

Respect.

Feeling himself after the win.

This is still going on.

Calling Woodley out.

Peak athlete.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jordan Mein (31-12) vs. Jason Jackson (11-4); Bellator 242, July 24.

Aaron Pico (5-3) vs. Solo Hatley Jr. (8-2); Bellator 242, July 24.

Ty-wan Claxton (6-1) vs. Jay Jay Wilson (5-0); Bellator 242, July 24.

Rudy Schaffroth (6-1) vs. Steve Mowry (7-0); Bellator 242, July 24.

Logan Storley (11-0) vs. Mark Lemminger (10-1); Bellator 242, July 24.

Raufeon Stots (13-1) vs. Cass Bell (5-0); Bellator 242, July 24.

Raphael Pessoa (10-1) vs. Tanner Boser (18-6-1); UFC Fight Night, July 25.

Ketlen Viera (10-1) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (12-5, 1 NC); UFC Fight Night, Aug. 8.

John Dodson (21-11) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (11-4); UFC 252, Aug. 15.

Alistair Overeem (46-18, 1 NC) vs. Augusto Sakai (15-1-1); UFC Fight Night, Sep. 5.

Michel Pereira (23-11) vs. Zelim Imadaev (8-2); UFC Fight Night, Sep. 5.

Lyoto Machida (26-9) vs. Phil Davis (21-5); Bellator 245, Sep. 11.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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