In a battle of flashy strikers, Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry emerged victorious at UFC 303. The undefeated welterweight outworked Michael “Venom” Page over three rounds on Saturday night. Nevertheless, the fight was not as glamorous as it had been hyped up to be. Slow pace, low strikes, and grappling control plagued the entire fight.
Ian Garry, who often likes to compare himself to his famous countryman Conor McGregor, failed to live up to the hype. He landed a total of 19 significant strikes against the elusive Page. Page himself landed just 21 significant strikes over the course of three rounds. Garry ultimately secured a unanimous decision win due to better ground control time.
The fight opened the main card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garry’s game plan centered on takedowns and control. He neutralized Page’s unorthodox striking by grounding him in the first round. The Irishman maintained a body lock, frustrating Page’s attempts to create space. Michael Page found more success on the feet in round two. His lightning-fast attacks kept Garry guessing.
Garry’s wrestling proved the difference-maker in the final frame. Although Page also had some control time in the third round, but failed to capitalize on it. All three scorecards read 29-28 in Garry’s favor. The win keeps Garry’s perfect record intact at 15-0. For Page, the loss is a setback but not a career-ender. The 37-year-old proved he can hang with a ranked UFC talent.
Fight fans react to the lack of action in the Ian Garry vs. Michael Page bout
The UFC 303 saw multiple changes in its card. From Conor McGregor’s withdrawal to Jamahal Hill’s injury, the card was sometimes a mess. However, some fights remained as is, one being Ian Garry vs. Michael Page. The fight was hyped as a clash of elite strikers, but fans were not into what they witnessed.
Fight fans reacted to Michael Page vs. Ian Garry (via Eurosport)Fight fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the fight. The majority of the reactions centered around the lack of activity in the fight and the pace at which it was going. Fans had expected a barnburner to start the main card but were disappointed. This disappointment was evident in their reactions.
What a waste of a fight. Eight significant strikes by Ian Garry lmao
— Chaise Gulley (@cgulley21) June 30, 2024
No way I lost my parlay to Ian Garry landing 8 significant strikes.
— Zachary Hamby (@OleHamby) June 30, 2024
deep it, Ian Garry just won a fight by landing no significant strikes but got smacked multiple times and just got to decent grappling positions… dead
— Naldo (@NaldoUtd) June 30, 2024
Did Ian Garry land a single significant strike in that entire fight?
— cotydankh (@CotyJitsu) June 30, 2024
2nd round was alright, the rest was atrocious
— Pena Cartel 🗿 (@PenaCartel) June 30, 2024
As the dust settles, the conversation and the reactions will likely continue. Garry’s stock may rise after the win, but fight fans would wonder if he has the potential to take on elite welterweight prospects like Shavkat Rakhmonov or Jack Della Maddalena. For now, Garry is the winner, no matter the way it happened.
