UFC 303 was going to be a particular second for Ian Machado Garry’s combating profession.
Not solely was the UFC welterweight contender taking one other step ahead in his promising profession, however he was additionally going to be combating in the identical occasion as his childhood idol Conor McGregor. McGregor, the most important star within the historical past of the game, impressed Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) to take up MMA and chase a profession as knowledgeable fighter.
Nonetheless, the dream to share a card with McGregor got here to an finish final week, as McGregor needed to withdraw from his battle with Michael Chandler on account of harm.
“The one motive I’m combating anybody on June 29 was as a result of I wished to battle on the identical battle (card) as Conor,” Garry instructed MMA Junkie. “I wished to signify Eire side-by-side with Conor and do our nation proud. The 2 largest stars in MMA in Eire, representing our nation on the most important stage doable, breaking data within the UFC – which Conor already did. That’s what I wished to do. I wished to get collectively as a crew and signify our nation.”
Garry nonetheless stays on the cardboard, as he’ll be taking over Michael Web page (22-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) within the opening bout of the pay-per-view portion of the occasion, which works down on June 29 at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.
Garry admits McGregor’s withdrawal harm, however he’s optimistic that this might result in a UFC occasion in Eire.
“For me, it was going to be a full circle second,” Garry stated. “Being that child in Dublin, going into college each Monday morning speaking about Conor’s press conferences and Conor’s fights and speaking to all of my pals, and that construct up that pleasure that he dropped at Eire and that buzz that he created. For me to be that child in class speaking about him, to be sat on the identical stage as him on the press convention, after which moving into the identical octagon as him that night time and representing our nation on the most important stage doable, would’ve been a dream come true.
“However God has different plans, and God works in mysterious methods. I’m excited to see Conor again and possibly, simply possibly, this implies we get our Eire occasion. Perhaps this implies we get to convey it again to Eire, and we are able to important and co-main collectively.”
With McGregor out and being the one Irishman on the cardboard, Garry feels even an even bigger responsibility to signify.
“I nonetheless have a job to do,” Garry defined. “I nonetheless need to go on the market and show that I’m one of the best fighter within the welterweight division. I’ve so as to add that No. 15 to this stunning tally tee and take MVP’s scalp. I’ve to go on the market and do it in stunning style. Now I’m the one carrying the flag for Eire. We have been going to do it, however I’m nonetheless doing it. I’m going to go on the market and I’m going to show that the combating Irish are nonetheless in drive, that we’re going to do it collectively, and after we go to conflict, we go to conflict, and I’m carrying that flag.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 303.
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