Despite losing a unanimous decision to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303, Michael Page remains unimpressed by Garry’s performance and doubts his potential to reach the top of the UFC welterweight division.
Michael Page may have fallen short against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303, but that doesn’t mean he came away impressed by what he saw from the cocksure Irishman.
Page dropped a hard-fought unanimous decision at the June 29 pay-per-view. He outclassed Garry on the feet but ultimately lost two rounds on the scorecards after succumbing to Garry’s grappling-heavy game plan.
Afterward, UFC CEO Dana White publicly stated that the bout felt like a draw, much to Garry’s chagrin. But even despite the setback, Page’s takeaway was unequivocal when asked Wednesday on The MMA Hour whether Garry is championship material in the talent-rich UFC welterweight division.
“Not all. No,” Page said. “Because if that’s the game you’re going to go [to] when you get a decent striker, then Leon [Edwards] is going to kill you anyway, then Shavkat [Rakhmonov] is going to kill you anyway."
"There’s a few guys in there that I just don’t see him surpassing."
“Even in some of the areas, he didn’t feel massively strong," Page continued. "I’m not even trying to be disrespectful to him because again, he’s done his job; he was smart about how he kind of went by it."
"But for me, regardless, this game for me is about combat. It’s about fighting. Not about stealing wins."
"Even like I said, that last round, I didn’t necessarily need to stand up or need to let him stand up. I could’ve stayed there and just dragged it out and potentially got a better score in the third round and maybe that would’ve swayed it."
"But that’s not the game I’m in. I’m in a combat game. Like, I want to cause damage; I want to hurt people.”
“So yeah," Page concluded. "I don’t see him progressing to the top. I think he’s talented. I think he’ll always be around there—top 10, top five—and then he’ll keep losing out to certain people."
"But he is still talented and obviously has loads of time to progress and get better anyway.”
Page, 37, is now 1-1 in his brief UFC career after scoring a blowout win over Kevin Holland in his promotional debut.
His performance against Garry further showed that Page’s unique brand of striking presents problems for any contender in the UFC welterweight division.
But he nonetheless remains disappointed in himself for the result.
Page said he hasn’t yet watched the fight back but knows he’s going to be frustrated once he does.
“I’m tough on myself," Page admitted. "I think there are a lot of mistakes that I made.”
“I just wasn’t quite myself in there," Page reflected. "For me, it just motivated me a bit more."
"Obviously exactly what I said was going to happen happened."
"As much as Ian said he’s this level of striker—he’s this fast—he didn’t want to strike with me."
"And I tell people all the time: when I’m bouncing around in front of you, it’s a very different game."
"He went for a different plan,” Page noted.
"Again," Page continued thoughtfully, "there are a couple decisions during the fight that I could’ve made and done better to maybe scrape the result—but that’s just not me.”
"I prefer to go and get a big finish and wanted to knock him out."
"So yeah," Page sighed with determination. "I’ve got a lot to adjust and adapt but am super motivated to get back."
"Super motivated.”
One of the big storylines from UFC 303 fight week was Garry’s accusation: an unnamed member of Page’s team offered $10k for info on Garry’s prep and game plan.
Garry has continued hammering this accusation post-bout—even calling for lifetime suspensions for Page and his coaches from MMA.
Page remains unclear about what Garry is speaking of.
“If somebody in my camp tried [that], no—I haven’t been told anything,” Page stated firmly.
“One hundred percent [it’d bother me if it were real], because I don’t need it."
"I don’t feel like I need it—especially for him.”
"And again—I’m trying not being disrespectful—it’s not personal at all."
"But…I don’t feel like needed extra info do what know can do—or should’ve done—in last fight.”
Currently on vacation but already itching back into gym? That’s Michael Page!
Uninjured from bout; fully expects compete least one more time 2024; happy test skills against any 170-pound contender UFC throws at him.
“I just need get back winning column true ‘MVP’ fashion,” said confidently.
“Still feel haven’t actually showed self UFC cage.”