Ian Garry thinks he’s earned the right for quite the fight.
The UFC Welterweight contender is moving on up in the division after defeating #8 ranked Geoff Neal by split decision at UFC 298. That’s seven straight wins in the Octagon for the undefeated Garry (14-0) and the Irishman is now knocking on the door of the top 5 rankings.
Garry vs. Covington: ‘A Massive Matchup’
Garry sees controversial three-time title challenger and top-ranked Colby Covington as his ticket into the title conversation at 170lbs. ‘The Future’ explains why it should be in his, well, ‘future’.
“I know for a fact that it’s a massive matchup,” Garry said on ‘The MMA Hour‘. “When you think about it when you think about where his ranking is now, like I said earlier on, I’ve beaten more top 15 competitors than Colby Covington has. His biggest claim to fame is ‘I’ve fought 3 for 3 world titles, and I’ve lost all of them’.
“So, I believe Colby still has a lot of respect for the fans. He’s still a massive matchup. He has a lot of followers. He’s a very good athlete. He pushes the pace and he’s got great wrestling, but he’s not a tenth of the athlete that I am. He doesn’t have the technique that I have. He doesn’t have the mindset that I have. I mean, the guy’s a joker, a clown, he was gonna get cut by the UFC until he put on this fake persona that everybody knows about and is aware about. He’s a pantomime.”
Garry Says Covington Is Picky When It Comes To 170
Covington hasn’t really fought down the ladder since a win over Jorge Masvidal almost two years ago. Other than that, ‘Chaos’ hasn’t found himself against much contenders since before fighting for the undisputed title.
The up-and-coming Garry looks to change that for him.
“I know for a fact I’m the biggest fight he’s gonna get,” Garry added. “He’s not gonna fight a [Kamaru] Usman. He’s not gonna fight a Shavkat [Rakhmonov]. He’s not gonna fight Belal [Muhammad] because they’re all terrible matchups for him. I’m a striker at heart. Striker versus wrestler makes sense. I’ve also not been tested against an elite American wrestler in the division.
“So, give me the guy I could beat the best at it. Let me show the world how much better I am than him.”
‘There Is Not A Bigger Matchup… No Bigger Paycheck…”
Garry says the high-stakes matchup should come at even higher proportions whether that’s in America or across the pond in Ireland.
“Let me do it over 5 rounds. Let me do it on a massive main event in Ireland, or a co-main event on the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler card, whenever that is… I promise you now, heart to heart, eye to eye, I will put Colby Covington face down on the canvas, whether I knock him out or whether I choke him unconscious.
“I don’t care how it happens, I know for a fact it will happen because he’s never ever going to be as good as me. I just know that there is not a bigger matchup for him to take. There is no bigger paycheck for him to get at the moment, because I am the biggest man he can compete against. I think that said and done, he’s also not in a position where he gets to turn down fights anymore. You take what you’re given, or you don’t fight at all.”
