Ian Machado Garry and Michael ‘Venom’ Page continue their war of words ahead of the welterweight main card opener at UFC 303.
Competitive rivalry has turned to bad blood in Las Vegas as top welterweight contenders Ian Machado Garry and promotional newcomer Michael ‘Venom’ Page continue to trade insults ahead of their upcoming clash at UFC 303 this weekend. But who won the latest round of jabs?
Garry says MVP signing for the UFC is him trying to ‘legitimize’ Bellator run
At the UFC 303 media day, MVP was first up to the firing line as he took shots at not only Ian Machado Garry’s personality but also his caliber as a world championship-level fighter.
In fact, the flashy striker claimed that had the bout been taking place in a rival promotion such as Bellator or Cage Warriors, fans would be calling him out for fighting a ‘can’.
“It’s weird in all honesty, it’s weird to me because this type of fight, had it been outside of the UFC, most people would have been like ‘You’re fighting a can’, most people would have been like ‘Why are you fighting this guy?’”
Unsurprisingly, Garry certainly wasn’t happy about being called a ‘can’, or the opinion that his skillset would be viewed differently had he still been fighting in a rival promotion, and not the UFC.
“He’s been built up in Bellator against people he was meant to beat, he’s put on shows against people he was supposed to beat. That was a great business decision from him and Bellator to build his brand, but he’s here now.
“He’s fighting someone 11 years younger, someone who’s faster and far more talented than he has ever been and ever will be. And I am telling you on Saturday night, the world’s going to see just how f***** good I am.”
Garry claimed that such a low-hanging jab is MVP trying to “talk out of his f***** a***” in order to “make it [out] that he’s more elite than me,” as the duo build what should be an electric main card opener.
“There’s a reason why everyone’s talking about me being one of the best prospects that this sports has ever seen,” claimed Garry, before firing a decidedly personal shot at the promotional newcomer.
“Seven wins in the UFC, 14-0 undefeated. I have beaten three ranked opponents, and I am on my way to being a UFC champion… MVP has come to the UFC to try to legitimize his career in Bellator, and I’m going to end that on Saturday night.”
Undefeated star predicts he’ll need 12 months to win UFC title
Should Ian Machado Garry earn that statement win he’s looking for at UFC 303, he’ll be in the conversation for a shot at the welterweight title, although the brash Irishman believes that he’ll need 12 months to make that dream a reality.
“I believe I’m going to be fighting for a world title in a year’s time in Las Vegas, Nevada, International Fight Week.
“This fight obviously moves me up the ranks, probably puts me above Colby [Covington] and Gilbert [Burns] – they might move Jack Della Maddalena up and I’ll be breaking into the Top 5.”
Interestingly, Garry also predicted that after Leon Edwards successfully defends his title in July, Shavkat Rakhmonov will take the welterweight belt and hold onto it until International Fight Week 2025.
“He’s a phenomenal fighter in every aspect of the game, I have nothing but respect for him and to go out there and take his 0 and him trying to take my 0.
“I would love to do that for a world title. I would love for him to get the world title, and then for me and him to fight, and take his 0 and the belt.”
Ian Machado Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page goes down this Saturday live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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