Ian Machado Garry believes he decisively won his fight against Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303, despite some fans and UFC CEO Dana White arguing the bout should have been a draw.
If you think Ian Machado Garry didn’t beat Michael “Venom” Page, he thinks you’re wrong.
At UFC 303, Garry picked up the eighth win of his UFC career. He took a unanimous decision victory over Page on the opening main card fight.
It was a competitive fight that Garry nearly won in the first round. He secured a takedown and back control, almost finishing with a rear-naked choke before Page ultimately defended.
Looking back on it, “The Future” isn’t pleased with his performance.
“Livid. Absolutely livid,” Garry said on The MMA Hour. “It should have been done in the first round. There should have never been a second, there should have never been a third.”
“It should have been, ‘Ian Machado Garry takes his back and subs him unconscious.’ That’s what it should have been.”
“I’ve already lost sleep over that and I just have this burning sensation in my brain that is just — it’s the competitor in me. It’s the perfectionist in me that goes, that’s where the fight should have been done and dusted.”
Instead, Page was able to survive the submission attempt and the rest of the fight was hotly contested. From that point on, Page won most of the striking exchanges.
He even wound up on top for some time in the third round after Garry pulled guard. Later in that round, though, Garry was able to once again secure a takedown and move to back control.
This was enough to win the round and the fight, at least according to the judges.
Some fans disagreed with the judges’ decision. They argued that it should be a draw with Page winning the final two rounds and Garry taking a 10-8 in the first.
UFC CEO Dana White was among those who scored it as a draw. But Garry wholeheartedly disagrees.
“You’re full of shit. You need to go back and watch the fight,” Garry said in response. “First round was mine.”
“Here’s the thing: There is more of a case to say I won all three rounds than there is to say it was a draw.”
“That’s how I look at it. First round, dominated. No one in the world is arguing that.”
“Third round? It’s pretty obvious I won.” He continued passionately: “I ended up on bottom somehow; it was a weird exchange from punches.”
“But I used elbows from bottom—tight, dirty.” He added: “I had damage when off my back.”
“Then I took him down again; got his back; dusted him up.” Not much damage but nothing from ‘MVP.’
Garry emphasized: “So first and third were clearly mine.” The second? Debatable.
He admitted: “I’d lean towards MVP as competitor.” He felt he could’ve won second but understood how MVP finished strong with three good combos—the most damage of any round.
However: “Absolutely no basis for saying it’s f*cking draw,” he insisted firmly—more argument for winning all three rounds!
To strengthen his argument further? Page himself seemed agreeable—clapping along as decision read inside cage!
“29-28 unanimous decision,”
Garry concluded confidently: “Pretty obvious I won first & third…so confident getting hand raised end-fight.”
Me & MVP both knew who led dance; controlled charge—it showed clear winner.
The win moved Garry’s professional career record now stands impressively unbeaten at fifteen-zero!