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Tag: Ian Garry

  • Joaquin Buckley Says Only Three Welterweights Ranked Above Him Would Accept A Fight

    Joaquin Buckley Says Only Three Welterweights Ranked Above Him Would Accept A Fight

    With a five-fight win streak since returning to the welterweight division, Joaquin Buckley now finds himself ranked inside the top 10 at 170-pounds. His latest win was also his biggest, stopping Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 307 to climb to the #9-spot.

    Now, Buckley is looking for another opponent that can put him into the title picture after beating the likes of Thompson, Nursulton Ruziboev and Vicente Luque. The issue he’s encountering is that many of the big names ahead of him are not interested in taking the fight.

    In order for Buckley to get within reach of a title shot, he will need another big name on his resume but that’s not possible if he can’t make this line up for him. In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Buckley was asked who he thinks would accept a fight with him that’s currently above him in the rankings.

    He struggled to think of too many examples, picking out three names in the end with one of them being the current champion.

    “Accept a fight? That’s a hard one. I believe the ones that are true fighters and true martial artists who would love to step into the cage with me are JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), is one of them… Damn, that’s kinda crazy, when I really start to think about it. Ian Garry probably… Belal Muhammad, that’s it bro. That’s it. When you talk about really wanna step in the cage with me, I don’t think there’s a lot of dudes that went to step in there with me.”

    Buckley then proceeded to list several names that he doesn’t think would agree to fight him, including Kamaru Usman who he called out after his most recent win.

    “Gilbert don’t want to step in there with me, Leon Edwards wouldn’t want to step in there with me, Colby Covington wouldn’t want to step in there with me. We see Usman didn’t want that work. Sean Brady blocked me from Instagram so he definitely don’t want to get the work. There’s not a lot of guys that’s willing to step in that cage with me, I’ll tell you that.”

  • Ian Garry Claims Usman Turned Down UFC Tampa Fight: ‘You & Colby Are More Similar Than I Thought…’

    Ian Garry Claims Usman Turned Down UFC Tampa Fight: ‘You & Colby Are More Similar Than I Thought…’

    Undefeated welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry has spent a lot of this year campaigning for a fight with former interim champion Colby Covington. Given the build up alone, the fight would be huge but it seems unlikely that we will see it happen.

    The Irishman wanted the match-up at UFC 303 in June but ended up facing and beating Michael “Venom” Page instead. Now occupying the #7-spot in the rankings, Garry is looking for a main event slot in order to get him closer to a title shot.

    There aren’t too many opponents ahead of Garry that make sense for him right now. The likes of Sean Brady and Jack Della Maddalena would be great fights but of course, defeating a former champion would be a great scalp to have on his record.

    According to a recent social media post, it looks like he may have been offered a former rival of Covington’s who has been out for a over a year at this point in time.

    Kamaru Usman posted a short message on social media to suggest that is ready to return to action in the near future to snap his current losing streak. It didn’t take long before Garry responded, claiming that Usman turned a fight with him down for December 14 which is set to take place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa.

    With Belal Muhammad set to make the first defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov the week before at UFC 310, a potential title eliminator taking place seven days later would make a lot of sense.

    “Ready? Really? I thought you were built different, but turns out you and Colby are more similar than I thought. Say YES see you December 14th!”

  • Ian Garry Says Colby Covington Ignoring Fight Proposal

    Ian Garry Says Colby Covington Ignoring Fight Proposal

    Ian Garry recently claimed that the UFC has offered him a fight against Colby Covington; however, he noted that the potential matchup is only halfway to becoming a reality.

    Garry and Covington have been caught up in a heated feud for nearly a year, with both fighters repeatedly expressing their eagerness to settle their differences in the Octagon. Notably, the Irishman has been actively seeking this matchup.

    “The Future” recently posted an Instagram video where he revealed that he agreed to a fight with Covington a month ago, but he has yet to receive any word from “Chaos”.

    “What’s up, everyone? So, I’m coming on to let everybody know, keep everybody in the loop, and keep everyone updated because it matters,” Garry said. “A month ago, I was offered a fight with Colby Covington. It took me all of 20 seconds to respond to the email saying, ‘Yes, I’m in.’ A month later, we still have no response from Colby. He’s avoiding me like the plague, and there’s one reason and one reason only this fight isn’t happening, and his name is Colby Covington.”

    According to recent media reports, UFC matchmakers are looking to pair Garry and Covington as the headliners for a Fight Night event in Tampa, Florida, on December 14. However, with less than two months remaining, there has yet to be any official confirmation.

    Garry is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Michael Page at UFC 303 in June. He remains undefeated in his professional career, with an impressive eight-fight winning streak in the UFC. A potential clash with Covington would enhance his status in the UFC welterweight division, propelling him closer to a title shot.

    Meanwhile, “Chaos” has been inactive since suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss in his third attempt at the 170-pound title against then-champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296 in December 2023. Covington’s last victory dates back to March 2022, when he triumphed over his former friend-turned-rival Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272.

  • ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady &, MVP

    ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady &, MVP

    Belal Muhammad has been as vocal as he can be since winning the UFC welterweight championship against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. His ten-fight unbeaten streak in the division finally led to him winning gold, and he’s now firing back at all his doubters.

    As impressive as Muhammad was in his last fight, fans are now eager to see him defend his belt. From Sean Brady to Kamaru Usman to Shavkat Rakhmonov, the division is stacked with contenders as well.

    While admitting to Rakhmonov most likely being his next opponent, Muhammad has laid down the perfect plan for the rest of the top UFC welterweights….

    Belal Muhammad Reveals How Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Ian Garry, and Jack Dalla Maddalena Can Enter The UFC Welterweight Title Picture

    Muhammad discussed the current state of the UFC welterweight division in the Believe You Me podcast by Michael Bisping on YouTube. Although he thinks that Rakhmonov’s win over Stephen Thompson doesn’t make him a clear contender, he suggested the UFC wouldn’t want to lose on a potential star by testing him once again before the title shot.

    So, with Rakhmonov bagging the next title shot in the division, Muhammad suggested these fights for other top contenders:

    “If I’m matchmaker, I’m looking at Sean Brady versus Usman. And I’m looking at Ian Garry against Leon. And you know, Jack Della, I think he’s out, he’s injured, but even him against, because he’s not even proven himself. He was getting beat by Gilbert Burns until he caught Gilbert Burns at the last minute, so I would give him another test. Maybe, like an MVP.”

    Brady is coming off a dominant win over Gilbert Burns and beating a former champion like Usman would legitimize his title shot. Ian Garry could build a similar claim to the title by beating Edwards, considering not many were convinced by his win over Michael ‘Venom’ Page.

    Last, but not least, Jack Della Maddalena took out Burns after being dominated for two rounds. He can have an illustrious striking matchup with MVP, who would want to bounce back from his loss as well.

    It’s hard to assume whether the UFC will finalize any of these matchups, but the kingpin has his eyes set on all the potential threats to his title.

  • Bryan Battle Assesses Skills Of Fellow UFC Welterweight Ian Garry: ‘I Think I’d Whoop His Ass’ (Exclusive)

    Bryan Battle Assesses Skills Of Fellow UFC Welterweight Ian Garry: ‘I Think I’d Whoop His Ass’ (Exclusive)

    UFC welterweight prospect Bryan Battle doesn’t see anything special in the arsenal of ranked contender Ian Garry.

    Garry, a former Cage Warriors champion, has extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 with eight victories since signing with mixed martial arts’ leading promotion in 2021.

    The latter half of the Irishman’s UFC career thus far has seen him rise the ranks against stiffer competition, defeating notable names in Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page en route to #7 in the pecking order at 170 pounds.

    Despite that run and his firm prediction of title success soon enough, not everyone has been impressed by “The Future” and the manner with which he’s emerged victorious in two fights this year.

    That evidently includes a welterweight peer in Battle…

    Battle Likes His Chances Against Garry

    During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Battle assessed the skillset of Garry, who sits among the top contenders that the TUF 29 winner has his sights on for the future.

    “He’s not — I mean, you’ve gotta give a motherf*cker credit where credit’s due. He’s undefeated. He’s been undefeated in the UFC,” Battle said. “One thing I’ve come to appreciate in the UFC is no matter how someone looks to an extent, if they’re being successful in the UFC, then that means they’re good.

    “Eye test and like, my opinion, is that he’s not that good,” Battle continued. “But you have to give credit where credit’s due. He’s out there, he’s doing his thing. He’s fast. He’s sharp. I think I would whoop his ass, but you know, whatever. Hopefully he stays undefeated until we fight each other. Hey, I’d be interested to see how he does against an elite grappler, you know what I’m saying?”

    Perhaps Battle will get the chance to prove his remarks correct inside the Octagon down the line.

    The first step in his pursuit of closing the gap on Garry in the welterweight division comes later this month in the French capital, where “The Butcher” is tasked with stalling the rise of another highly touted up-and-comer in City Kickboxing’s Kevin Jousset.

  • Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

    Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

    At 41-years-old, Stephen Thompson knows that he is much closer to the end of his run in mixed martial arts than the start of it.

    Whilst he has been more than happy to take on the new blood at the top of the welterweight division, like his next clash against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307, there are still some big fights for “Wonderboy” before he walks away.

    Two names stand out the most at 170-pounds due to their striking pedigree which would allow Thompson to do what he does best, rather than spending his final fights defending takedowns.

    Ian Garry met Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 where the undefeated Irishman continued his ascent up the rankings by relying on his takedowns to get the win.

    Both opponents are fights that many would like to see Thompson step into but he only agrees with one of the two options.

    Stephen Thompson Explains Why He’s Open To Fighting Ian Garry But Not Michael ‘Venom’ Page

    During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on the Believe You Me Podcast, Thompson gave his thoughts on facing Garry and Page before he hangs up the gloves.

    Garry, who is ranked higher than “Wonderboy” at #7, is a fight that he’s certainly up for but he can understand why the Irishman may not be so keen on it given his undefeated run.

    “I think it would be great, especially Ian Garry but at this point in time, I kind of see where he’s at like he’s just looking for the gold. I don’t think he would even want to give me a chance. I’m ranked #9, he’s close to the title, I think he’s looking for that next.”

    From the moment that “MVP” signed to the UFC, seeing Page and Thompson square off was a potential match-up that got fans excited because they’re both such specialist strikers.

    However, both men took an early stance that the fight probably wouldn’t deliver because they’re too similar to one another, which would create a stand-off.

    “And MVP, I think it would be, I think the fans would love that fight but…”

    After Bisping jokes that it would be nothing but both men keeping their hands down and circling one another, Thompson expanded on why he isn’t that interested in that fight even if it appears to be something that the fans want to see.

    “That’s the thing, I think it would just be that. Just moving around and staring at each other the whole time. We’re both counter strikers, you know, we got that karate background, we want guys to come forward so they run into our techniques, so we can work our angles, so we can blitz but when you have another counter striker on the other side of the Octagon with you, it could possibly be one of the most boring fights ever and I think people would boo it. I think people would boo that fight, I really do man.”

    Thompson also made reference to Garry’s fight against Page where he looked to press the action rather than counterstriking with “MVP”.

    He gave this as his reasoning for why the Garry match-up wouldn’t have the same outcome as the one against Page.

    Read also: Kamaru Usman Compares Career To Israel Adesanya & Alexander Volkanovski Ahead Of Rumored Return Against Belal Muhammad: ‘How Disrespectful Are MMA Fans’

  • Belal Muhammad Told To Hand Out ‘A Couple Of 10-7s’ To Ian Garry On Social Media: ‘But Keep The Wife Out Of It…’

    Belal Muhammad Told To Hand Out ‘A Couple Of 10-7s’ To Ian Garry On Social Media: ‘But Keep The Wife Out Of It…’

    Josh Thomson and “Big” John McCarthy recently offered insightful counsel to Belal Muhammad, urging him to elevate his mic game and suggesting that sharpening his verbal skills could be the key to skyrocketing his popularity.

    “Remember the Name” realized his dream of dethroning welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last month at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester. This showdown marked their second clash, following their initial encounter in March 2021, which ended in a no-contest after an accidental eye-poke prevented Muhammad from continuing beyond the second round.

    Although Muhammad has consistently showcased his prowess in the Octagon, evidenced by his impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak, he seems to lack the gift of gab—a skill many UFC fighters masterfully wield to sell fights and win the hearts of fans.

    However, the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion appears to have shifted his approach in recent times, as evident on his X account, where he’s been unleashing unrelenting jabs at his naysayers. For the past few days, he’s been locked in a heated war of words with former long-reigning champion Kamaru Usman.

    Muhammad’s revamped strategy has certainly caught the attention of Thomson and McCarthy, who view it positively but believe he can still fine-tune his verbal game even further…

    Thomson & McCarthy Believe Muhammad’s Edwards Victory Was Two-in-One Success

    In a recent episode of the WEIGHING IN podcast with McCarthy, Thomson delved into Muhammad’s rising popularity following his victory over Edwards. The former UFC lightweight champion remarked that “Remember the Name” has undeniably silenced his critics with this win, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite.

    “I think overall he’s doing a great job because if you look, the one knock—not one, there were two knocks on him—interviews were cringe, okay? Like, ‘oh, it’s just too much; he’s forcing it too much, and he’s a boring fighter,’” Thomson said. “I’m sorry, he stood toe-to-toe with Leon, had some great wrestling, had some good standup—he fought a great, well-rounded fight. He’s a true MMA fighter, and he’s proving that now. Put him on the mic, maybe just take away the mic then if you don’t like what he has to say, but man, he’s lighting up Twitter right now.”

    “The Punk’ also noted how Muhammad is now playfully clapping back at his trolls on social media, adding a new dimension to his public persona.

    “He’s crushing X, and I love it. I love that he’s smashing dudes, I love that he’s handing out L’s, I love that he’s dishing out 10-8 rounds. I want to see a couple of 10-7s to Ian Garry, though. I’d like to see that—if he can hand a 10-7 to Ian Garry, I’d like to see it because that’s another guy who’s very cringe. They’ve got to take the mic away from that guy.”

    McCarthy nodded in agreement with Thomson’s remarks and playfully suggested that if Muhammad ever engages in a war of words with Garry, he should steer clear of bringing up his spouse in the trash talk.

    “Okay, I’m all for him handing out a 10-7 to Garry, but keep the wife out of it.”

    Since his victory, Muhammad has welcomed the prospect of facing Shavkat Rakhmonov for his first title defense, while simultaneously sparring with Usman in a heated social media back-and-forth.

    However, with “The Nigerian Nightmare” reeling from three consecutive losses, a title shot seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Garry, who remains undefeated and vocal about his ambitions for a title fight, could soon find himself in the welterweight title mix.

  • Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

    Leon Edwards’ Coach Names Preferred Next Opponent After Title Loss At UFC 304

    Belal Muhammad shook up the welterweight division at UFC 304 this past weekend by overcoming the odds to become the welterweight champion.

    Leon Edwards had reigned for close to two years. Now, “Rocky” going back to being a contender provides some interesting options for the division.

    Fans have been critical of Muhammad’s style for some time, but the same can’t be said for the current list of top contenders at 170 pounds.

    With the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, and Ian Garry all in the mix, there’s some great matchups for Edwards, assuming that he isn’t getting a straight rematch.

    His coach believes that one of those names is the best option partly due to his history with the former champion…

    Dave Lovell Says Ian Garry Is His Pick To Fight Leon Edwards Next

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Edwards’ head coach Dave Lovell said that his preferred choice for Edwards’ bounce-back fight would be the #7-ranked Garry.

    The undefeated Irishman previously had some tension with Edwards and his team after spending a brief amount of time training with them at Team Renegade in Birmingham, England.

    Lovell said that this history combined with Garry’s current position in this division make this fight a great return for “Rocky.”

    “I’d like to see Leon fight Ian Garry. Obviously we can keep it British based, either Ireland or over here. Obviously the little background story we had going back last year is a — he’s looking for a scalp. Now Leon’s not champion, he may think well, he’s a good scalp for him to get to obviously march on to get a championship belt or title shot.

    “For Leon, if Leon beats him, that then puts him at the back of the queue and then maybe if they want one more before he fights Belal, if Belal’s still got the belt, well that’ll be the future move, the future plan.”

    Lovell believes Edwards would have the advantage in this fight because of the experience that he brings to the table.

    The Team Renegade head coach said that during Garry’s short time at the gym, they were able to identify some of the weaker areas in his game.

    “I believe Leon would beat him with the simple fact of fight experience. (Garry’s) a good lad, he’s got good skills, but we know — because we’ve seen some when he was at our gym — don’t just think he came to the gym and it was a boogie ride for him, you know, he was getting tapped out by — again, I’m not mentioning no names. If he wants to mention them, that’s up to him.”

  • Classy Neil Magny ‘Tips Hat’ To Ian Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘If You Go Out There & Try To Do A Little Bit Too Much Against MVP…’

    Classy Neil Magny ‘Tips Hat’ To Ian Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘If You Go Out There & Try To Do A Little Bit Too Much Against MVP…’

    Ian Machado Garry maintained his undefeated record at UFC 303 where he handed Michael “Venom” Page his first loss inside the Octagon.

    The two dynamic welterweight strikers went the full three rounds in the main card opener where Garry’s takedowns and ground control proved to be the difference.

    He received some criticism from fans for this performance after not backing up some of his words about how the striking battle would play out.

    Garry’s been known to ruffle some feathers during his UFC tenure, not least during the build up to his fight with the veteran 170-pound competitor Neil Magny.

    The two men met at UFC 292 last year where the rising contender said some things about Magny that didn’t really resonate with a lot of the fans.

    Despite their previous tensions, there is no bad blood towards the Irishman at least from Magny’s point of view as has been clear in the past.

    Neal Magny Praises Ian Garry For His ‘Smart’ & ‘Patient’ Performance At UFC 303

    During a recent interview with James Lynch for InsideFighting, Magny spoke about his former opponent’s last outing.

    The welterweight staple is set to return on August 24 where he looks to make it back-to-back wins since his loss to Garry when facing Michael Morales.

    He believes, like many, that the clash between Garry and Page came right down to the wire where it was eventually decided by the slimmest of margins.

    “Yeah I watched it, it’s one of those fighters where it’s a tough call. When you have so much time to prepare for a fight, every move you make has to be very calculated where had one guy or the other slipped up one way or the other like had MVP [been] able to stuff one takedown, it would change the outcome of the fight. Had Ian Garry missed one takedown it could change the outcome of the fight, had MVP landed one more significant strike it could change the outcome of the fight so it was just one of those fights that was close going into it and anything can literally happen.

    “That fight literally came down to who made the least amount of mistakes. I mean even some of the takedowns that Ian Garry was able to score on MPV, it didn’t really come from like, ‘Oh I’m going to set up a shot with my strikes and feint and get in this way.’ It was off a caught kick or something like that and he took full advantage of it.”

    Where some fans criticized Garry for relying on his grappling skills to make the fight a more gruelling affair, Magny credited him for this.

    He spoke about how when you’re up against an opponent like Page, doing anything other than keeping it simple can result in a rough awakening.

    “It was a very close fight I was definitely impressed with the grappling display that Ian Garry was able to pull out of that fight. I definitely tip my hat to the performance that Ian Garry. It was one of those fights that is very difficult to prepare for because if you go out there and try to do a little bit too much against MVP, you end up waking up looking at the ceiling so he fought a very smart fight, a very patient fight and was able to get it done.”

    Read also: Ian Garry Gets Support From Fellow Irish UFC Fighter After Criticism Of Michael Page Win: ‘F*ck Fighting MVP, He’s A Nightmare!’ 

  • Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Honest About Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s Chances To Get UFC Gold: ‘He’s Fought A Lot Of Guys You’ve Never Heard Of…’

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Honest About Michael ‘Venom’ Page’s Chances To Get UFC Gold: ‘He’s Fought A Lot Of Guys You’ve Never Heard Of…’

    Following a solid UFC debut against Kevin Holland, Michael Page lost to Ian Garry at UFC 303 via unanimous decision. Despite having success on the feet, he could not stop a couple of Garry’s takedowns and was controlled for over seven minutes.

    The fight was close with Garry decisively winning the first and Page bouncing back in the second. MVP started strong in the third but a late takedown helped “Machado” get the judges’ nod.

    Here’s what Georges St-Pierre’s coach, Firas Zahabi, thinks of MVP’s future in the UFC welterweight division and whether he can be the champion one day…

    Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Expects Michael ‘Venom’ Page To Improve His Resume In The UFC

    Zahabi recently talked about MVP’s potential to become the UFC welterweight champion on his YouTube channel. Although he claimed Page to be the better striker in the Garry fight, he is skeptical about the Bellator star’s ability to handle other high-level opponents.

    “I think MVP looked good in the striking. The third round was close. I gave the first round, obviously to Ian. Second round, I gave it to MVP. Third round, I had MVP and then Ian Garry came out with the double leg.”

    While looking at Page’s record, Zahabi highlighted that many of his opponents in Bellator can’t be compared to the top-ranked UFC welterweights. Apart from Holland and Douglas Lima, his most notable win is over Paul Daley. According to GSP’s coach, Lima won the rematch against “Venom”, which is why he isn’t impressed by the latter’s resume.

    “It was a close fight but those are just higher level competitors. And It Was the First Time We see Him Against higher level competitors. The THing is MVP’s Had a lot of fights in his career but he’s fought a lot of guys you’ve never heard of. He’s fought a lot of guys you’ve never heard of.”

    The coach said that most of Page’s opponents won’t make it to the top 15 in the UFC welterweight division. As a result, “Venom” might be overwhelmed by the competition in the promotion.

    Zahabi gave Page his props for the impressive win over Holland and advised him to continue fighting the top 15 ranked UFC welterweights. He didn’t sound confident about MVP winning gold at 170 pounds, though.

    Read More: Jon Anik Explains Why Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad 1 Is Not Good Indicator Of UFC 304 Rematch: ‘Largely, I Have To Throw Out Most Of The First Fight…’

  • Michael Page ‘Wouldn’t Have Been Happy’ With Being Given Win In Ian Garry Fight At UFC 303: ‘I Did Not Perform’

    Michael Page ‘Wouldn’t Have Been Happy’ With Being Given Win In Ian Garry Fight At UFC 303: ‘I Did Not Perform’

    Given how he performed at UFC 303, welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page says he wouldn’t have wanted his hand raised.

    Page had his plans for a quick rise toward an all-English championship showdown with Leon Edwards stalled by Ian Garry at the International Fight Week pay-per-view late last month in Las Vegas.

    The pair opened the main card, going the full three-round distance in a fight that left many in the community disappointed and less than satisifed.

    That sentiment is shared by Page himself, a former Bellator veteran who was left frustrated with some of the decisions he made when sharing the Octagon with “The Future” at T-Mobile Arena.

    Despite that, “MVP” was competitive throughout and even had some backing him to earn the nod on the scorecards. For UFC CEO Dana White, the bout played out in a manner that would have left a draw as a fair result.

    Page, however, would have been unhappy to have been given anything but a defeat on the scorecards…

    Page Relieved Not To Have Won With UFC 303 Performance

    During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani last week, Page looked back on his sophomore display in the UFC, which came four months on from a successful debut at the expense of Kevin Holland in Miami.

    The Londoner acknowledged that some thought he did enough (42.5 percent of 372 submitted fan scorecards on MMA Decisions). But Page says he would not have been in a celebratory mood had the three judges cageside seen things the same way.

    “It’s nice to hear people kind of rooting for me,” Page said of those who scored the bout in his favor. “But regardless, I didn’t perform well. So if I somehow managed to get the win, I wouldn’t have been happy with that anyway. If it was somehow a draw, I still wouldn’t have been happy with that.

    “I focus on me, and I did not perform the way I should have performed. I made so many mistakes; just silly things,” Page continued. “Yeah, so I wouldn’t have been happy with that. For me, I lost the fight. That’s the reality of it, regardless of what everyone’s saying. I should have done X, Y, Z, and I’m just eager to get back in.”

    With that, Page will look to emerge victorious with an emphatic performance next time out. And given the extra motivation he’s touting post-UFC 303, he’s seemingly looking to return to winning ways and get his title ambitions back on track before the end of 2024.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Squashes Rumors Of Trying To Have Mole In Ian Garry’s Camp Pre-UFC 303: ‘I Don’t Need It, Especially For Him!’

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Squashes Rumors Of Trying To Have Mole In Ian Garry’s Camp Pre-UFC 303: ‘I Don’t Need It, Especially For Him!’

    Ahead of their bout at UFC 303, Ian Garry made an accusation regarding Michael “Venom” Page and his team.

    The Irishman claimed at the press conference on fight week that someone from Page’s circle had tried to gain information about Garry from someone in Brazil, where he spent his training camp.

    “MVP” didn’t react to these comments at the time but Garry once again made reference to this after the fight where he picked up a unanimous decision win in the main card opener.

    Page recently spoke about his side of this story where he made it clear that he knows nothing about Garry’s claims and wouldn’t want information anyways.

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Says He Doesn’t Know Of & Wouldn’t Want Someone Trying To Get Information For Him

    Page appeared on The MMA Hour where he was asked for his interpretation of Garry’s accusations and what his reaction to them was at the time.

    He says that whilst things like that do happen in MMA and has happened to him in the past, it’s not something that he was aware of in this training camp.

    “When he was saying it I was like I don’t even know, I’m not entertaining it just because it sounded like he was just shouting a lot of stuff with an Irish accent so I was just like I don’t care. When I listened to it after, I was like I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s not me anyway. There’s always gonna be guys in people’s camps should I say that are gonna be reporting back. We’ve had that in our camp before and we find out who it is and kick them out, same stuff, but I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

    Page also said that if Garry is correct in what he is saying, he would be incredibly frustrated that someone would try to go behind his back to get information without him wanting it.

    He stated that due to the match-up that he was preparing for on June 29, he doesn’t believe that something like that would even give him an advantage – so the only effect it would have is downplaying his reputation.

    “Yeah, 100% because I don’t need it. I don’t feel like I need it, especially for him and again, I try not to be disrespectful to him because it’s not personal at all but I don’t feel like I needed to get any extra information to do what I need to do, what I know I can do, or should have done should I say, in that last fight.”

  • Michael Page Reveals How Close Ian Garry Was To Getting First-Round Choke At UFC 303: ‘Their Arms Burn Out Before I Tap’ 

    Michael Page Reveals How Close Ian Garry Was To Getting First-Round Choke At UFC 303: ‘Their Arms Burn Out Before I Tap’ 

    While he admits the submission hold was deep, Michael “Venom” Page says he was never concerned about getting choked out by Ian Garry at UFC 303.

    Page made the walk inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena at last month’s International Fight Week pay-per-view event, making his sophomore appearance inside the Octagon after swapping Bellator for the UFC in late 2023.

    While “MVP” immediately burst into the rankings on debut by getting the better of Kevin Holland in Miami this past March, he was unable to climb further toward his targeted all-English title fight with Leon Edwards on June 29.

    Instead, Garry cemented his top 10 spot by narrowly getting the better of the Londoner on the scorecards in the UFC 303 main card opener. The Irishman utilized his grappling to enjoy large periods of control in rounds one and three.

    For the most part, Page didn’t appear in danger of getting finished throughout the close fight. He did, however, find himself in a worrying spot during the first grappling exchange, as “The Future” attempted a rear-naked choke.

    But although many were surprised to see “MVP” escape the hold, the man himself was less shocked…

    Page: Not Getting Choked Out Is One Of My Jiu-Jitsu ‘Superpowers’

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Page looked back on his first UFC setback and failed attempt to blemish the perfect professional record of Garry, a former Cage Warriors champion.

    The Brit was specifically asked about the compromising position he found himself in on the ground shortly into the opening round, having no doubt drew out cries of ‘he’s going to tap’ from some fans watching at home.

    Page is yet to be submitted in 25 pro fights, and he says that’s for good reason.

    “I’m very difficult to choke. In jiu-jitsu, that seems to be one of my superpowers. It’s always hard for people to finish chokes on me,” Page said. “When I got into that position…that was way closer than (against Holland). When I say closer, yeah, it was deep, but there was no way I was tapping and I wasn’t going to sleep either.

    “Not to give away anything, but like I said, I am very difficult to choke,” Page continued. “Even in the gym, there’s guys that get me really deep and they’re like, ‘What the f…?!’ Their arms burn out before I tap. So luckily, I’m stubborn in that area. But it was a deep choke (at UFC 303).”

    Whether Page will need to prove that once again opposite one of the welterweight division’s top grapplers next time out or will instead be matched against a fellow striker remains to be seen.

    But either way, “MVP” has touted his extra motivation since the defeat in Las Vegas and vowed to bounce back as his pursuit of gold continues.

  • Michael Page Gives Grim Assessment Of Ian Garry’s Title Chances After UFC 303: ‘Leon’s Gonna Kill You…Shavkat’s Gonna Kill You’ 

    Michael Page Gives Grim Assessment Of Ian Garry’s Title Chances After UFC 303: ‘Leon’s Gonna Kill You…Shavkat’s Gonna Kill You’ 

    Having shared the cage with him at UFC 303, Michael “Venom” Page doesn’t see Ian Garry reaching the top of the welterweight division.

    The pair collided in the main card opener of the International Fight Week pay-per-view on June 29 in Las Vegas. The three-round affair was widely branded somewhat lackluster, with the Irishman utilizing his grappling to edge frames one and three on the scorecards.

    The result marked the latest addition to Garry’s undefeated professional record and moved his UFC slate to 8-0, cementing his top 10 spot in the process.

    While “The Future” has confidently expressed that he’ll now move on to focusing on those above him in the pecking order and the title, “MVP” is confident he’ll soon have his résumé blemished…

    Page Didn’t Feel A Future Champion Against Garry At UFC 303

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Page looked back on the defeat he suffered in what marked just his second fight competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage following a decade in Bellator.

    The Londoner expressed frustration with his performance inside T-Mobile Arena, suggesting the result was more down to his own shortcomings than Garry’s efforts inside the Octagon.

    With that in mind, Page didn’t feel like he was squaring off against a sure-fire future champion. Far from it, in fact. “Venom” recalled facing someone who would get “killed” by UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards and top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Not all. No,” Page said when asked if he sees Garry as a future champion. “Because if that’s the game you’re going to (use) when you get a decent striker, then Leon is going to kill you anyway, then Shavkat is going to kill you anyway. There’s a few guys in there that I just don’t see him surpassing. … Even in some of the areas, he didn’t feel massively strong. I’m not even trying to be disrespectful to him, because again, he’s done his job, he was smart about how he kind of went by it. But for me, regardless, this game for me is about combat. It’s about fighting. Not about stealing wins.

    “Even like I said, that last round, I didn’t necessarily need to stand up or need to let him stand up. I could’ve stayed there and just dragged it out and potentially got a better score in the third round and maybe that would’ve swayed it, but that’s not the game I’m in. I’m in a combat game. Like, I want to cause damage, I want to hurt people,” Page continued. “So yeah, I don’t see him progressing to the top. I think he’s talented. I think he’ll always be around there, top 10, top five, and then he’ll keep losing out to certain people. But he is still talented, and obviously he’s got a loads of time to progress and get better anyway.”

    Garry no doubt feels differently, having frequently insisted that a title crowning on MMA’s biggest stage is inevitable. He’ll look to prove that when he returns to action, potentially against one of the names mentioned by Page.

    Post-UFC 303, the Irishman had the name of Rakhmonov on his lips. While he got a positive response from “Nomad,” it remains to be seen if the UFC will share the same outlook and pair them together next.

  • Ian Garry Gets Support From Fellow Irish UFC Fighter After Criticism Of Michael Page Win: ‘F*ck Fighting MVP, He’s A Nightmare!’ 

    Ian Garry Gets Support From Fellow Irish UFC Fighter After Criticism Of Michael Page Win: ‘F*ck Fighting MVP, He’s A Nightmare!’ 

    Not everyone was impressed by Ian Garry’s performance at UFC 303, but given what he sees in Michael “Venom” Page’s style, a fellow Irish fighter seemingly was.

    Garry cemented his spot in the welterweight top 10 late last month at the International Fight Week pay-per-view in Las Vegas, opening the main card opposite “MVP.”

    The Irishman was vocal in the lead-up about his lack of interest when it came to sharing the cage with the lower-ranked Englishman, insisting he only accepted the matchup to get on the undercard of what was originally planned to be Conor McGregor’s comeback.

    “The Notorious” ultimately pulled out and didn’t make the walk on June 29. Garry did, however, and had his hand raised in a close decision against Page, who was making just his second UFC appearance following a successful debut in March.

    Having gone to the scorecards in his fights against Neil Magny and Geoff Neal, the Dubliner’s run of decisions and the competitive nature of his clash with “Venom” have left some critical of “The Future” and dismissing his chances of competing against the elite of the division.

    One of Garry’s fellow countrymen, however, has suggested that such a narrative does a disservice to the challenge “MVP” presents inside the cage…

    Loughran Says Criticism Of Garry’s UFC 303 Performance Is Unfair

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, UFC bantamweight prospect Caolan Loughran gave his take on a number of notable prospects, stars, and champions currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

    When it came to Garry, the former Cage Warriors champion admitted that he hadn’t been a fan of his compatriot’s approach to fight buildups in the past.

    But after noting an improvement when it came to his remarks ahead of UFC 303, Loughran pushed back on negative takes regarding Garry’s victory over Page on fight night.

    “I haven’t met Ian since he was an amateur. I haven’t seen him since the regional scene. I haven’t seen him in years,” Loughran said. “I was actually liking the way he was talking (ahead of UFC 303). And he’s winning fights in the UFC.

    “He’s getting a lot of stick for his performance against ‘MVP.’ F*ck fighting ‘MVP.’ He’s a nightmare!” Loughran continued. “Until you have him in front of you, you haven’t sparred or trained with someone like him. Now, when you put him on his back, he’s crap. But it’s just getting him on his back is a nightmare.”

    Having maintained his perfect UFC and professional record at the expense of “MVP” at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, Garry is now setting his sights on those above him in the welterweight pecking order.

    In addition to offering to serve as backup fighter for this month’s UFC 304 main event between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad, the Dubliner has set his sights on Shavkat Rakhmonov as a potential next opponent.

  • Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Ian Garry Doesn’t Expect Kamaru Usman To Be An Option Post-UFC 303: ‘I Believe He’s Going To Run Scared’

    Rising UFC welterweight Ian Garry has his sights set on those above him for his next fight, but he doesn’t see one former champion as a likely candidate.

    Garry extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 last weekend at UFC 303, where he recorded his eighth triumph on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage since signing in 2021.

    After climbing the ranks with victories over Neil Magny at UFC 292 last August and Geoff Neal this past February at UFC 298, the former Cage Warriors champion was forced to turn his gaze to a figure below him in the pecking order to secure an outing during International Fight Week.

    The Irishman opened the June 29 pay-per-view main card against Michael “Venom” Page, a former Bellator standout who debuted successfully at UFC 299 earlier this year.

    Despite some backing “MVP’s” unique striking to be the difference, Garry edged the Londoner out for a decision win inside the T-Mobile Arena. While the result hasn’t seen the Dubliner climb the ranks, it should see him matched against a top contender next time out.

    When it comes to who, though, “The Future” doesn’t see the former champ sitting inside the top five as an option…

    Garry Predicts Usman Won’t Want To Fight ‘Someone So Young & Dangerous’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A

    During a post-fight interview with TNT Sports’ Caroline Pearce in Las Vegas, Garry looked ahead to what could await him upon his return to the cage following UFC 303.

    The Irishman has been vocal in calling out fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov since his win over Page. And Garry explained that preference by suggesting both Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman will likely “run.”

    “Colby’s never taking the fight. He’s running scared. … After (UFC 303), he’s like, ‘Yeah, f*ck that, see you later.’ He’s jumping on someone’s rented yacht, acting like it’s his,” Garry said. “Look, there’s Usman, one of the greatest champions we’ve ever seen. I believe he’s gonna run scared and he’s not gonna f*cking make the call either. He doesn’t want to fight someone so young and dangerous.

    “I just have to see how the rest of the division plays out now,” Garry continued. “I’m in the driving seat. There’s only a couple of people I can fight that are gonna be above me.”

    Garry and Usman briefly trained under the same roof, with the Dubliner spending time at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, where “The Nigerian Nightmare” splits his time with Trevor Wittman’s facility.

    The former champ hasn’t directly addressed a potential fight with Garry in the aftermath of UFC 303. He did, however, assess how far “The Future” is from the title, noting he could be two fights away given the names that still sit above him in the rankings.

  • Dan Hardy Names Fighters He Thinks Will Dominate UFC’s Welterweight Division In Years To Come: ‘Some Of The Best Hands In All Of MMA!’

    Dan Hardy Names Fighters He Thinks Will Dominate UFC’s Welterweight Division In Years To Come: ‘Some Of The Best Hands In All Of MMA!’

    The UFC’s welterweight division has always been one of the most talent-stacked weight classes in MMA.

    Champions such as Georges St-Pierre, Tyron Woodley, and Kamaru Usman have each built legacies at 170 pounds that will be spoken about for decades to come, while other names like Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, and Carlos Condit have all gone down in the history books as some of the finest fighters to ever grace the sport.

    Current welterweight champion Leon Edwards is set to defend his title against Belal Muhammed in Manchester, England, later this month, and there are a number of exciting options awaiting “Rocky” should he emerge victorious from the main event of UFC 304 on July 27.

    Dan Hardy Gives His Thoughts On New UFC Welterweight Stars

    Another UFC welterweight legend has been giving his thoughts on the exciting young prospects populating the top 10 at 170 pounds this week.

    Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy fought in the Octagon 10 times between 2008 and 2012 and faced Georges St-Pierre for the title at UFC 111, so it’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about what it takes to hang with the elite of that particular division.

    “It does feel like it’s wide open,” Hardy said during a recent appearance on the From The Stands podcast. “We’ve got a lot of newer faces in the division now that have started to come and clear out the Colby Covingtons and Kamaru Usmans that are no longer really in the topics of conversation, which is good for the division.

    “We talk about Shavkat (Rakhmonov), and Ian Garry…either him or Shavkat (are talked about as) being the guy,” Hardy continued. “Clearly Ian Garry holds him in very high regard, as we all do as well. but Ian Garry and Shavkat are two of the new faces that are most likely going to define this division in the next few years.”

    Hardy also added two more names to the list.

    “Jack Della Maddalena…some of the best hands in all of mixed martial arts in my opinion. He’s got very, very slick boxing. I think he can go a long way.

    “Another one…Sean Brady. I still feel like Sean Brady’s going to be one of the most difficult fights for any single person in the division.”

    With a combined record of 66 wins and only three losses, the quartet of Garry, Rakhmonov, Brady, and Della Maddalena are not only freshening up the welterweight division, they seem to be raising the bar to new heights entirely.

  • Ian Garry Plans Backup Role For Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘Dan Ige Stepped In…Anything Can Happen’ 

    Ian Garry Plans Backup Role For Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad At UFC 304: ‘Dan Ige Stepped In…Anything Can Happen’ 

    Before looking ahead to his next official booking, UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry has his sights set on a different kind of assignment in Manchester later this month.

    Garry is just days on from his latest victory inside the Octagon, as the Irishman extended his perfect professional record to 15-0 with an eighth triumph since arriving on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in 2021.

    The result came at the expense of former Bellator standout Michael “Venom” Page, who was narrowly outpointed by “The Future” in the main card opener of this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view event.

    In the aftermath, Garry has mentioned names such as former champion Kamaru Usman and the highly regarded Shavkat Rakhmonov as potential next opponents en route to the welterweight gold.

    But the Dubliner is also seemingly planning to make the most of the possibility — however slim — that he could compete with gold on the line in just a few weeks’ time…

    Garry Says He’s Offered To Be Backup Fighter For UFC 304 Main Event

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports post-fight, Garry reflected on his success inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, assessed his next steps, and looked ahead to his division’s upcoming title joust.

    In one of two championship contests set for the promotion’s return to Manchester, England, for UFC 304 on July 27, Leon Edwards will run it back with Belal Muhammad in defense of his 170-pound belt.

    Garry is keen to weigh in as the backup fighter for the headliner, especially after seeing the number of matchups that fell through on the UFC 303 card and the same-day opportunity that arrived at Dan Ige’s doorstep.

    “I told the UFC two months ago, ‘When I win at UFC 303, I want to be the backup (at UFC 304).’ I want to be there just in case anything happens,” Garry said. “Look at this fight card (UFC 303), look at how many fights fell through. Dan Ige stepped in today! You know what I mean? Anything can happen, and I wanna be there just in case.

    “Whether it’s Leon, whether it’s Belal; whoever it is. I respect both of those guys’ skillset and talent. I’m aware how good they are,” Garry continued. “But I know I can go out there against any man on the planet and get my hand raised. So for me, I’m gonna be there (in Manchester). I’ve offered to UFC, Hunter (Campbell), and Dana (White), I will be the guy to stand in and make sure that there is gonna be a welterweight world title fight if anyone pulls out. So for me, that’s next.”

    It remains to be seen whether or not Garry will indeed appear on the scales a day out from UFC 304.

    But having experienced a tumultuous month of late-notice cancellations, perhaps the promotion will take “The Future” up on his offer to ensure the UK fans inside the newly built Co-op Live have a welterweight title fight guaranteed.

  • Ian Garry Frustrated At Getting Another Decision At UFC 303: ‘I Need To Start Working On These Finishes’

    UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry was disappointed not to finish a fight within the distance for the third straight time this past weekend.

    At Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view, Garry was tasked with opening up the main card in what marked his second Octagon assignment of the year. After getting past Geoff Neal in February, the undefeated Irishman was faced with a tougher striking test in Michael “Venom” Page.

    In the lead-up, “The Future” expressed a distinct lack of interest in the fight and vowed to “run through” the Englishman with ease. While he ultimately had his hand raised at T-Mobile Arena, it was far from a walk in the park.

    Garry secured victory on the scorecards, edging out a final round with his grappling to secure 29-28 verdicts from the three judges cageside.

    For the Dubliner, he maintained his position close to the top of the division and kept the 0 on his record. But like many fans who were expecting more from the clash, Garry didn’t exit the cage without some frustration…

    Garry ‘Irritated’ At Going The Distance With Page

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A

    During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Garry reflected on his performance and result opposite the tricky Page at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

    The former Cage Warriors champion admitted disappointment at his failure to finish “MVP” before the final horn, especially after both Neal and Neil Magny made it the 15-minute distance in his previous two bouts.

    “I nearly had the heel hook as well. Look, that for me is just little details on locking up things,” Garry said. “I said to Demian (Maia), ‘Do you know what we need to do now? We need to go every possibility of finish and we need to lock in the minor details; hand position, head position, feet position. We just need to go over it all.’

    “And it needs to be the same on the feet. I need to start working on these finishes because no one’s more irritated than me at having a third f**king decision in a row,” Garry continued. “Even though it’s against elite competition, it f*cks me off.”

    Having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with three knockouts in his first five outings, Garry will no doubt be hoping to return to those finishing ways moving forward.

    And now that he spends most of his time training over at Diego Lima’s Chute Box Academy in São Paulo alongside the likes of the UFC’s all-time most prolific submission artist Charles Oliveira, perhaps the Irishman’s next stoppage will come by way of a choke or hold.

  • Colby Covington Reacts To Ian Garry’s Latest Victory At UFC 303: ‘Anybody Could Be 15-0 Fighting 15 Bums’

    UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington unsurprisingly had a firm take on rival Ian Garry’s recent success inside the Octagon.

    Garry emerged victorious from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past weekend, where he opened the UFC 303 pay-per-view card alongside striking specialist Michael “Venom” Page.

    The pair didn’t set the cage alight as some were expecting, with the Irishman instead utilizing his grappling to get the better of “MVP” in rounds one and three to secure a unanimous decision triumph on the scorecards.

    In the lead-up, the former Cage Warriors champion expressed absolutely no interest in squaring off with Page at UFC 303, an event at which he’d initially hoped to face Covington as the co-headlining act for Conor McGregor’s return.

    “Chaos” publicly dismissed that matchup, branding Garry a “nobody.” And he believes that stance has been vindicated having seen the Dubliner’s efforts on Saturday night…

    Covington On Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘That Was Pathetic!’

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington provided his thoughts on Garry’s decision win over Page on June 29, which extended his perfect professional record to 15-0.

    “Chaos” laughed off mention of that unblemished slate, suggesting that Garry has built it by fighting “bums.” And while insisting that “The Future’s” performance was well below requirement, Covington mentioned UFC CEO Dana White’s take on the UFC 303 main card opener to support his point.

    “Fighting cans from the Indian Casinos league, oh, big deal,” Covington said. “Anybody could be 15-0 fighting a bunch of 15 bums. Even Dana White himself said what he thought of the performance. He thought it was a draw. He doesn’t think there should have been a winner.

    “I feel bad for the fans. The fans got robbed of a pay-per-view opener. That was pathetic. That guy’s fighting the number 14 guy in the world and barely scraping by,” Covington continued. “I think he lost the fight. I feel bad for the fans. They got robbed. But it just shows how much of a bum he is. … He was willing too do whatever he wanted to get on the Conor McGregor card because his name’s ‘Corner McGregor,’ the Conor McGregor wannabe. He pulled all these strings to get on the Conor card and then Conor left him on the alter. … The guy’s an absolute nobody and he’s a bum.”

    Although much of Garry’s focus following his win over Geoff Neal in February was on Covington, it would appear that he’s accepted the sailing of that ship.

    Rather than reiterating a desire to face “Chaos” post-UFC 303, the Irishman instead mentioned Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman as desirable next foes. It remains to be seen who Garry will share the cage with next, but after a third straight decision, he’ll no doubt be looking to finish whoever it is inside the distance. 

  • UFC Welterweight Backs Michael ‘Venom’ Page To Beat Ian Garry With Ease At UFC 303

    UFC Welterweight Backs Michael ‘Venom’ Page To Beat Ian Garry With Ease At UFC 303

    One rising name at 170 pounds is extremely confident in Michael “Venom” Page’s chances of recording a standout win over Ian Garry at UFC 303.

    The upcoming International Fight Week pay-per-view card at the end of this month got a whole lot stronger with the addition of a crucial welterweight contest that will pit the undefeated Garry against an Octagon newcomer in Page.

    While “The Future” has worked his way up to #6 on the ladder with wins over the likes of Neil Magny and Geoff Neal in recent times, “MVP” only debuted on MMA’s biggest stage in Miami this past March.

    At UFC 299, the Londoner impressed in his first UFC appearance after over a decade competing under the Bellator banner. He showed glimpses of his flashy striking style en route to a decision victory over Kevin Holland.

    In pursuit of a quick rise toward an all-English title showdown with Leon Edwards, Page has the chance to climb close to the top five at the expense of Garry at UFC 303 on June 29.

    And one of the division’s up-and-comers expects him to do just that…

    Randy Brown Has No Doubt Page Defeats Garry On June 29

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Randy Brown reflected on his victory over Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC 302 this past weekend and looked ahead to some other clashes set for his division in the coming weeks and months.

    “Rude Boy” was asked for his take on the sophomore UFC outing for Page, who, like Brown, has Jamaican heritage. Brown not only expects “Venom” to have his hand raised in Las Vegas, but he expects it to come with minimal resistance from Garry.

    “MVP, easy. Yeah, easy,” Brown said. “MVP, man, is super dynamic. I think he brings an element into the division that I think a lot of people are not used to seeing; movement, lateral movement, and just a level of creativity that most people aren’t seeing at all.

    “If you’re not used to seeing that — even a style like mine that’s based off movement alone — it throws people for a loop,” Brown continued. “You look at a guy like MVP, I think that movement is gonna throw Ian Garry off. Ian Garry’s the bigger guy, so he’s also used to using things like that, movement. But when you go against a guy that has a better skillset in that realm and has more experience in that realm… I think he picks him apart.”

    Page will no doubt hope to prove Brown’s assessment correct come fight night. To do so, he’ll need to blemish the perfect record of Garry, a former Cage Warriors champion who has long been touted for title success in the sport’s leading promotion.

  • What’s Next After UFC 302? Full Confirmed UFC 303 Main Card For Las Vegas On June 29

    UFC 302 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering.

    The promotion was in Newark, New Jersey, last week, where the Prudential Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups. Of note were victories for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, former middleweight kingpin Sean Strickland, the always entertaining Kevin Holland, and heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida.

    While the aftermath of the June 1 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the current crop of elite lightweights to one of the division’s former champs.

    At UFC 303, set for Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on June 29, former two-division UFC titleholder Conor McGregor will make the walk for the first time since suffering a gruesome leg break against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

    He’ll headline International Fight Week alongside Michael Chandler, the man against whom he coached on The Ultimate Fighter last year.

    Hill, Ulberg, Garry, Page Set The Stage For McGregor Headliner At UFC 303

    Before “The Notorious” Irishman makes his long-awaited comeback in the main event, a number of high-profile names will take to the Octagon looking to make the post of their position on the major card.

    That includes McGregor’s fellow countryman Ian Garry, whose calls for a fight on June 29 were finally answered last month. After Colby Covington frequently rejected the undefeated Dubliner’s callouts, “The Future” will instead defend his position close to the welterweight top five against Michael “Venom” Page.

    After the two elite strikers open the main card, Joe Pyfer and Mayra Bueno Silva will look to bounce back from their defeats earlier this year. After a main event loss to Jack Hermansson, “Bodybagz” is tasked with getting the better of veteran Canadian Marc-André Barriault. “Sheetara,” meanwhile, must rebound at the expense of Macy Chiasson months on from an unsuccessful challenge for the vacant bantamweight gold against Raquel Pennington.

    Then, setting the stage for McGregor vs. Chandler in the co-main event will be former light heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill. “Sweet Dreams” is making a quick turnaround following his knockout loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300. He’ll share the cage with the charging Carlos Ulberg, who is stepping in as a short-notice replacement for Khalil Rountree.

    See below for the full UFC 303 card, as it stands.

    Main Card:

    • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler (welterweight main event)
    • Jamahal Hill vs. Carlos Ulberg (light heavyweight co-main event)
    • Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson (women’s bantamweight)
    • Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-André Barriault (middleweight)
    • Ian Garry vs. Michael Page (welterweight) 
    UFC 298: Ian Garry vs. Geoff Neal
  • Sean O’Malley & Coach Outline Why Ian Garry vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page At UFC 303 Will Be A ‘Boring’ Affair

    Sean O’Malley & Coach Outline Why Ian Garry vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page At UFC 303 Will Be A ‘Boring’ Affair

    Two of the most exciting and unpredictable strikers in the welterweight division are set to meet for the first time in a huge addition to UFC 303.

    Ireland’s Ian Garry is set to return when he takes on the division’s exciting newcomer in Michael “Venom” Page.

    After beating Kevin Holland in his debut at UFC 299 in March, “MVP” will look to shoot up the rankings by taking out Garry in the #7-spot who has spent a lot longer in the promotion, building up his current undefeated winning streak.

    Despite the sniper-like striking skills that both men bring to the table, there are some that believe that this fight may not make for the best stylistic clash despite how interesting a fight it is on paper.

    Sean O’Malley & Tim Welch Aren’t Sure That The Styles Of Ian Garry And ‘MVP’ Will Gel At UFC 303

    On the latest episode of the TimboSugaShow, UFC bantamweight champion and his coach Tim Welch discussed the announcement of this fight. 

    O’Malley stayed positive on the fight, saying that it should be interesting even if it isn’t a great watch on the night.

    “Could be fun, could be fun”

    Welch, however, was less confident as he spoke about how them both being counter strikers could make this one a difficult fight to get through.

    This is something that was also spoken about when Page was being linked to a fight against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson who also has a similar style.

    “I feel like there’s a good chance it’s going to be boring. There’s going to be, I just feel like, watch Ian Garry versus Neil Magny, backing up, backing up. ‘Venom’ Page isn’t the type to stalk someone down and cut them off and put them against the fence and make it a fight.”    

    O’Malley rounded things out with joking about how both men could retreat until they both hit the opposite sides of the Octagon.

    Despite this concern, he is still excited to watch the fight to see who gets the better of the striking exchanges when they do happen.

    “They both just back up. It sounds fun though.”

  • Ian Garry Set To Return At UFC 273 Against Darian Weeks

    Former Cage Warriors champion Ian Garry will return for his second act in the UFC against Darian Weeks at UFC 273 on April 9.

    MMA journalist Marcel Dorff and Iridium Sports Agency were among the first to report the news of the booking.

    Garry passed his first UFC test with flying colors, getting the early knockout with one second left in the first round against Jordan Williams at UFC 268. He was arguably one of if not the biggest signing by the promotion in 2021.

    Garry will face a tough test against another welterweight prospect in Weeks. He most recently fell via unanimous decision to Bryan Barberena for the first loss of his professional career after successful stints in LFA and Midwest Fight League.

    Garry has been compared to another Irishman and former CW champion, Conor McGregor. After his debut win over Williams, he infamously alluded to a McGregor quote with his “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” declaration.

    Garry most recently earned the praise of former UFC title challenger Michael Chandler. The two of them train together down at the world-renowned Sanford MMA gym in Florida.

    Before signing with the UFC, Garry earned the CW welterweight championship over Jack Grant at CW 125. He would go on to garner the attention of the UFC brass just weeks later and made his promotional debut at the end of the year.

    At 24 years old, Garry is expected to be a welterweight to watch for years to come. If he can earn another impressive win over Weeks, he could move one step closer to a spot in the UFC rankings.

    Do you think Ian Garry is a future UFC champion?

  • Chandler Says Unranked UFC Newcomer Will Be Champion In Two Years

    UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler still has championship ambitions, but he’s got his eyes on a teammate who may beat him to it.

    Chandler fell short in a Fight of the Year contender against Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. Despite the defeat, Chandler earned plenty of respect and support from the UFC fanbase and is a big name in the lightweight division. He also had to apologize to his wife afterward for the sheer brutality of the contest.

    Chandler trains down at Sanford MMA alongside some of the top UFC talents, including Gilbert Burns and, formerly, Kamaru Usman. But one particular teammate of his, Ian Garry, has impressed him since joining the gym last year.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Chandler praised Garry and made quite the prediction for his UFC future.

    “We had a couple of conversations and then I was like, okay, obviously the talent is there, you know?” Chandler said. “His body type, his confidence in himself, the part of the world that he comes from – he’s a young, brash Irishman who does not lack confidence in any area of his life. And that’s something I’m attracted to as well. Even as a 35-year-old – a guy who has been in the game for a decade longer than he has – I still try to remember myself as that young, hungry, nothing-to-lose kind of guy.

    Ian Garry
    Ian Garry

    “And I think my fight style shows it, my attention to detail shows it because I want to live a champion lifestyle. And it’s just awesome to see these guys come in and even Ian himself, I think his game is on a trajectory to the moon. I think he will be world champion in the next couple of years.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Before signing with the UFC, Garry made waves by earning the then-vacant Cage Warriors welterweight title over Jack Grant at CW 125. Coincidentally, this is the same promotion where his fellow countryman, Conor McGregor, began his rise to stardom.

    Garry made a nod to McGregor during his post-fight interview at UFC 268, alluding to his “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over” quote.

    Chandler and Garry are in different weight classes but could benefit from one another in training. Both men could be in the title conversation by the end of 2022.

    Do you agree with Michael Chandler?