(Reuters) – Conor McGregor pulled out of UFC 303 due to injury, but Irish fans still had room to root for their compatriot, unbeaten welterweight Ian Machado-Garry, who beat Britain's Michael Page by unanimous decision on Saturday.
Garry (15-0) used his superior grappling against Page’s high-movement striking game to take him down and control the action on the ground for the majority of the bout.
“Patience was the key to beating Michael 'Venom' Page,” Gary told reporters after becoming just the second UFC welterweight fighter, joining former champion Kamaru Usman, to win his first eight fights since joining the UFC.
“I frustrated him. I charmed the snake charmer with snakes. (Page) likes people to do that dance with him, to move, to keep that rhythm flowing, and he takes advantage of that rhythm, that timing. I attacked him in stealth mode,” he added.
Garry, ranked seventh in the division behind champion Leon Edwards, said he is particularly interested in facing unbeaten No. 3 Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0), who has defeated every opponent he has faced so far.
“This fight excites me so much,” Gary said. “Shafqat is incredibly talented and I have nothing but respect for him, purely because I don't want anyone to beat him before me.”
“I am on my destiny's path, to be one of the greatest of all time. I will achieve it by any means necessary. I don't care how I achieve it. In 10 years, my name will be in the GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation,” he added.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Purulia, India; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
