The opening bout of the UFC 303 main card brings a striking delight when Irish star Ian Garry faces the UK’s Michael ‘Venom’ Page.
MVP vs. Ian Garry Preview
Ian Garry has drawn lots of love and hate throughout his UFC career. Going from a beloved prospect to a mocked heel, Garry has seen treatment on both sides as one of the sport’s hottest prospects. His seven-fight UFC win streak and impressive 14-0 overall record show that Garry has backed up the trash he’s talked. However, many are disappointed with his recent performances inside the Octagon. His last win came over Geoff Neal, in a fight he edged via split decision in a tightly contested affair. When he fought Neil Magny, it was a dominant display for 15 minutes and a clear decision win, but most people thought he could’ve finished the fight. A big finish on a card like UFC 303 could be what Garry needs to leapfrog to a title shot.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page is a newcomer to the UFC but a veteran of the sport. Page had a 10-year career in Bellator that finished with an imposing 17-2 record in the promotion. Page’s free agency was a hot topic with him finally announcing his choice in a well-made video. Page chose the UFC and came in with high expectations, being matched with Kevin Holland in his first fight in the promotion. Despite coming into the fight as a slight underdog, MVP made easy work of Kevin Holland over 15 minutes. His striking from range was lethal and he caught Holland at awkward angles throughout the fight. After the win he called to fight Ian Garry and got his wish, looking to break into the top 10 of the division and title conversations with another impressive win.
Fight Recap
MVP came out dancing around the cage while touching Garry with kicks. Garry stayed calm and returned fire when MVP overextended, and landed a big takedown off a caught kick. Garry worked from the top position and got to the back of Page where he pushed for a deep rear-naked choke. The choke was locked in deep and looked to be close to fight-ending, but MVP was able to withstand and fight his way out. The Irish fighter held a body triangle and out-grappled MVP for the rest of the round.
MVP came out looking to land some big bombs early in Round 2 but stayed cautious of the takedown. He bounced around the cage and confused Garry with his movement and timing, forcing Garry to clinch. The clinch heavily favored ‘The Future’ who controlled MVP easily on the cage. After a trip and scramble, Garry attempted an unsuccessful leg lock and the two met back on their feet. MVP landed some heavy shots late in Round 2 and potentially stole the round with his late damage.
Round 3 started off slow but was brought to the ground after a failed Garry takedown granted MVP top position. Just over halfway through the round, Garry fought back to his feet but quickly landed a takedown of his own. He moved to the back of Page and went back to attacking the neck while hanging in the air on the back. Despite the advantageous position, Garry was unable to find the finish as the fight hit the scorecards.
The judges scored the fight 29-28 across the board for Ian Garry who moves to 15-0 in his career.
UFC Fighters React to Garry Outlasting MVP
Featured Image Credit via Embed from Getty Images
