EXCLUSIVE
Ian Garry admits he’s got ‘zero interest’ in fighting Michael Page with Conor McGregor injury ruining UFC dream
Ian Garry only agreed to fight Michael ‘Venom’ Page so he could compete on a Conor McGregor card.
‘The Future’ was inspired to pursue a career in MMA after watching his fellow Irishman win two UFC titles and become the biggest star in combat sports.
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Now he’s 14-0 and closing in on a shot at welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Garry has a very specific plan for his fight career, and he only wants to face people ranked above him, but has gone off track ahead of UFC 303 on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old, who is the no.7 welterweight contender, will face Page despite the fact he is ranked no.14 after winning his UFC debut against Kevin Holland earlier this year.
Garry accepted a fight with 'MVP’ because he thought he would be on the same card as McGregor, but he was forced out of his scrap with Michael Chandler due to a toe injury.
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The 'Notorious’ fan admits he's gutted about how things have played out.
“I just feel like it’s a little stab to the heart every time someone asks me about it,” Garry said about McGregor’s UFC 303 withdrawal during an interview with
“I was super-excited to fight on the same card as him. Obviously, I was super-excited for fight week, to be on the same press conference, see him backstage and just mix it up with him.
"He’s an inspiration, but now he’s a friend. Now he’s someone I can call a friend and someone who I get along with. It just sucks.
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“The truth is, it sucks for me, but I know that it sucks for him more than anybody else. I can only imagine how he feels.
“When it comes to activity, I’m way up there. Way, way up there. So, whenever Conor’s back, whenever he’s ready to go, I'll be ready to go again.”
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In the meantime, Garry still has to deal with Page and to say he’s less than enthused by his fight with the English knockout artist is an understatement.
He added: “I have zero f***ing interest in fighting Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Zero.
“And I’ve been blatantly honest about it because it’s the truth. I don’t want to fight him.
“I’ve won in my career, I’ve only had success and I want to fight the guys ranked higher than me so I can go out there and earn a title shot the way I want to do it.
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“To fight on that same card as Conor and get that dream to come true, I had to fight someone below me. I’m as game as they come, and I will fight anyone."
Fans are divided on who’ll emerge victoriously from the eagerly anticipated UFC 303 bout, but Garry believes it will be a mismatch in his favour.
"Absolutely f*** all. Nada,” he said when asked what threats Page poses.
“He’s a very specific style. He tries to dominate the fight with his movement, with his footwork, with his awkwardness and he baits people in.
“You can’t do that to someone who’s better than you.”
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