Ian Machado Garry reacts to Conor McGregor’s withdrawal from UFC 303

UFC 303 was going to be a particular second for Ian Machado Garry’s preventing profession.

Not solely was the UFC welterweight contender taking one other step ahead in his promising profession, however he was additionally going to be preventing in the identical occasion as his childhood idol Conor McGregor. McGregor, the largest 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.

Nevertheless, the dream to share a card with McGregor got here to an finish final week, as McGregor needed to withdraw from his struggle with Michael Chandler because of harm.

“The one motive I’m preventing anybody on June 29 was as a result of I wished to struggle on the identical struggle (card) as Conor,” Garry instructed MMA Junkie. “I wished to signify Eire side-by-side with Conor and do our nation proud. The 2 greatest stars in MMA in Eire, representing our nation on the largest 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 workforce and signify our nation.”

Garry nonetheless stays on the cardboard, as he’ll be taking up Michael Web page (22-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) within the opening bout of the pay-per-view portion of the occasion, which matches down on June 29 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.

Garry admits McGregor’s withdrawal damage, 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 faculty each Monday morning speaking about Conor’s press conferences and Conor’s fights and speaking to all of my buddies, and that construct up that pleasure that he delivered to Eire and that buzz that he created. For me to be that child at school speaking about him, to be sat on the identical stage as him on the press convention, after which entering into the identical octagon as him that night time and representing our nation on the largest 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. Possibly this implies we get to carry it again to Eire, and we will principal 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 should go on the market and show that I’m the very 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 trend. 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 preventing Irish are nonetheless in pressure, that we’re going to do it collectively, and after we go to battle, we go to battle, and I’m carrying that flag.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 303.