MONTREAL – If a Georges St-Pierre vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight is to ever happen, don’t count on it taking place at lightweight.

Once upon a time, St-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) said he was capable of making the 155-pound limit to go for a title reign in a third weight class. It would be the dream scenario for a potential showdown with Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC), but the chances now seem more grim than ever.

St-Pierre’s longtime head coach, Firas Zahabi, said that, at 38, he doesn’t see “Rush” making the commitment to cut down to that division for the first time.

“Right now I think the ship has sailed on 155,” Zahabi told MMA Junkie at Tristar Gym. “I don’t think Georges will ever do 155. I think there was a time and place and window where Georges would make that sacrifice to do a mega-fight. But I think that window’s passed, personally.”

St-Pierre retired from MMA competition for a second time in February. His first hiatus lasted more than four years, with his comeback seeing the former welterweight champ claim middleweight gold from Michael Bisping in November 2017.

St-Pierre quickly vacated the title due to health issues. When he ultimately decided to announce his retirement, he cited an inability to negotiate a matchup against Nurmagomedov with the UFC as a primary reason.

UFC president Dana White had long been opposed to the idea of St-Pierre vs. Nurmagomedov. However, after “The Eagle” defended his title against Dustin Poirier last month at UFC 242, White showed slightly more interest in a potential bout.

Zahabi believes a catchweight or welterweight fight would instead be necessary, but that scenario seems far more unlikely. The noted coach doesn’t believe St-Pierre will be bothered by it.

“He’s older now, and life is good,” Zahabi said. “He’s found a social life, a balance in life of training and family and friends. To leave all that to do a 155 is a big cost in terms of sacrificing energy and preparation. He would have to prep six months to get to that. He would have to set it up to get done. 155 would be work. Is he going to work that much? I think that ship has sailed.

“I’m not talking for Georges. In my opinion he’ll only come back for a mega-fight. Like a mega-fight. No titles needed, either. Could be a title. I don’t think that’s really important to him. Like a mega-fight. Only those two names (Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor) that are the names big enough for him and enticing.”

Zahabi can never rule out something 100 percent, he said. He long predicted St-Pierre’s first comeback even when the fighter was noncommittal, but this time he’s not quite so sure.

“My feeling that he’s going to come back is much lower,” Zahabi said. “However, I see him in practice all the time, and he’s training really well, and things are going really well. He hasn’t lost it. The man has not lost it. He’s still the greatest martial artist in the world. Right now. Today. He’s still the greatest.

“People might not know it, but I know it. Because I see it. Maybe he’s going to wake up one day, and he’s like, ‘I’m going to show them.’ It’s up to him. But I think also he loves to compete. But not as strong as it used to be.”