ANAHEIM, Calif. – [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] doesn’t want a title shot gifted to him. He wants to earn it step by step.
The next test after Saturday’s UFC 298, in Garry’s eyes, is clear. It’s [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag], and Garry wants to inflict significant damage.
“I’m going to beat Colby Covington like we’ve never seen before,” Garry told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Then I want a top-three opponent, someone who is in that title contention, because the truth is, Colby’s biggest claim to fame is he’s fought for three world titles and he’s lost all three. He’s not as good as people think he is. You get beaten by a young, up-and-coming prospect, one of the best we’ve ever seen, the truth is you don’t come back from that.”
On paper, the fight might look like a pretty standard striker vs. grappler to the outside observer. Garry warned the masses should not to sleep on his ground game, particularly with how vengeful he feels toward Covington.
“I’ll match him pace-for-pace on cardio,” Garry said. “I’ll match him for output. He doesn’t possess anywhere near the power Geoff Neal does. He has great wrestling. Cool, put me on my back. I’m training with Demian Maia. See what happens if you put me on my back. I’ll choke him unconscious. I promise you, I will end that fight. I will finish that fight and I’ll rid UFC of Colby Covington once and for all. He needs to be gone. I’m sick of his nonsense. He’s a piece of sh*t.”
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Both Covington and Garry have been booed in their careers, perhaps more than most. For Garry, the hatred is still a bit new. At face value he refuses to reject it, as was the case when the Honda Center drowned out his in-cage interview with boos after his split decision win over Geoff Neal. Garry is going to keep doing his thing, regardless.
“I don’t care whether people love me or hate me,” Garry said. “I’m doing what I love. I’m a kid who had a dream and I’m up here living it. I watched Conor go through everything that he went through. I just want it. That’s the life I want to live. I want to put on a show. I want to fight for a living. I want to travel the world and train with the best coaches in the world, the best teammates on the planet.
“I’m living the dream and there’s no one who can wipe that smile off my face. There’s still nobody in the world who can take that 0 off me. I’m going to keep proving that. Whether they love or hate me, whether they cheer or boo, if my hand gets raised, I’m still going to become a world champion whether they like it or not.”
Covington is 2-3 in his most recent five five. All three losses came in title fights. He most recently competed at UFC 296 in December, when he lost a unanimous decision to welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.