LAS VEGAS – It’s optimistic for sure, but it’s hard to criticize Ian Machado Garry for his ambition.
After a close decision victory over recent UFC transplant and former Bellator standout Michael Page (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) to open the UFC 303 main card on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, Garry ( 15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is off to an impressive 8-0 start to his UFC career.
This makes the welterweight already thinking about the chance of being the best in history, let alone winning a UFC title. And for the last goal, he plans to put himself in a position to be ready for a twist of fate.
“I’m on track to be one of the greatest of all time,” Garry said in his UFC 303 post-fight press conference. “I’ll do it by any means necessary and I don’t care how it gets done. 10 years from now, my name will be in that GOAT conversation. Who is the greatest of all time? You will say Jon Jones, (Georges St-Pierre), Anderson Silva Ian Machado Garry.
“I’m going to have my name in this conversation because it’s opinion-based. If you are Brazilian, it will say Anderson Silva. If you’re American, you might say Jon Jones. We could all sit here and have all of our opinions. As long as my name is in that conversation, I have had a successful career.”
But that’s 10 years from now. Looking ahead, the welterweight title will be on the line in England in three weeks when British champion Leon Edwards defends against Belal Muhammad. And while there’s nothing to say the fight is in danger of falling apart, stranger things have always happened in MMA.
Riding an eight-fight win streak, only former champion Kamaru Usman has had a quicker start in the UFC welterweight division than Garry. That’s why he said he intends to be in Manchester not only to watch the fight, but if any of those crazy things happen. And perhaps then what should happen next for him will present itself much faster than expected.
“We will have Manchester in three weeks. I’ll be there. I’ve told the UFC before that I’ll be willing to replace him,” said Garry. “I know there is no one above me ready to go. I know not because there was no one above me to sign the fight with me because I had a lot of conversations with Hunter (Campbell) and the UFC guys.
“There’s no one else above me except Colby (Covington), and he said he was running away. Therefore, no one else is available. I’ll be there in Manchester, I’ll be on that scale and if the opportunity arises I’ll go there and put my hand up.”
List
Social networks react to Ian Machado Garry’s victory over Michael Page at UFC 303 to remain undefeated
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 303.
