Ian Machado Garry accepted a fight against Colby Covington for UFC 303, but Covington did not, leading the UFC to book Garry against Michael “Venom” Page instead.
Ian Machado Garry kept receipts.
For anyone questioning the legitimacy of a fight proposed between him and Colby Covington at UFC 303, the top-10 ranked welterweight has emails showing the offer and his immediate acceptance. Unfortunately, Garry said the same couldn’t be said for Covington. UFC eventually lost interest and booked him against Michael “Venom” Page instead.
“I’ll send you the email. I was offered the fight,” Garry said on The MMA Hour. “I was offered it June 29, UFC 303, Ian Machado Garry vs. Colby Covington. I responded back to that and said yes."
"I had multiple calls with the UFC," he continued, "multiple back and forths with the UFC about why it hasn’t been accepted, why it hasn’t been pushed, why it’s not happening."
“I was on the phone so much with them because I knew that fight was the one I wanted. I will push [for] the fight I know I want." He added, "At the end of the day, I can’t make a man step into the octagon with me if he’s scared of me.”
Garry said there was no hesitation on his part to take the fight. However, he heard a multitude of reasons why Covington wasn’t returning the favor.
“Honestly, there were so many different reasons that just didn’t align in my mind,” Garry said. “They said at first he can’t get [medically cleared], and then it was, ‘Oh, he’s fine; he wants the fight.’"
"He’s on talking about, ‘I’ll fight, I’ll fight,’ but then he’s not accepting." The truth is," Garry speculated, "I think he’s just avoiding me."
"I don’t think there’s any one [thing]. He’s just avoiding the fight because he knows," Garry asserted. "’Ian Garry’s too dangerous for me to step in that octagon with; I’ll try to wait and find someone else.’”
Garry proposed fighting Covington for several reasons. Not least among them were insults hurled by Covington at him, his wife, and his family during interviews leading up to Covington’s loss to Leon Edwards last December.
Covington’s vitriol aimed towards Garry hasn’t slowed down since. He even called Garry a “liar,” claiming that he never received an offer for their matchup.
Still, deep down inside? Garry believes Covington knows why their fight never came together.
“I don’t know if I ever believe that he will accept a fight with me,” Garry admitted. “I think Colby Covington looks at me and sees…the end of his career."
"A young prospect—super sharp," Garry described himself as "super fast" and "super smart." Different from anyone else he’s ever fought."
"That’s scary when you’re on the latter end of your career," especially when you’re just trying to stay relevant by beating people who aren’t going to be world champions or best fighters.
“I think he’s going to look for easier opponents." In fact? "I don’t see a world where Colby ever fights me."
"But if he wants to?" By all means! Back it up! Because you’ve talked too much shit not to get in that octagon with me.”
Of course…Garry knows it’d be hard to pass up on fighting Covington if that opportunity came around again.
“I will never say I’m done with it,” Garry stated firmly. “Because that man has talked too much shit not to step in that octagon so I can destroy him."
"He deserves to have his head slapped off.”
When shifting focus from Covington to Page at UFC 303? It wasn’t easy for Garry—but that’s part of this job.
Ideally? He’d be knocking out Covington Saturday night instead of Page—even though there’s no bad blood between them.
“I was so excited—so buzzing—to get that Colby fight,” admitted Garry. “To punch his mouth in…to shut him up…to dog walk him…destroy him in every way possible."
"But…" He ran away!
"He said no." And re-shifting energy? Re-aligning focus? That was hard!
Then came a rake of opponents saying no-no-no-no-no until MVP finally turned around after initially saying no—and came back saying yes!
“Yes—it was hard—but now it’s not.” Now?
“It’s OK.” Why?
"I’m one of best fighters on planet!" And MVP?
"My example.”