Ian Garry maintained his undefeated streak with a victory over Michael Venom Page at UFC 303 on June 29. Fans expected a striking showcase given both fighters’ impressive striking backgrounds. Garry, inspired by Conor McGregor, has often called himself the “next Conor McGregor.” However, his recent performance has cast doubt on his ambitions to become MMA’s biggest star, akin to McGregor in his prime.
Grappling Over Striking
Garry, training at Charles Oliveira’s Chute Boxe Gym, opted for a grappling-heavy approach against Page. Most of the fight took place on the ground, with Garry controlling the first and third rounds from the top. Page seemed lost against Garry’s grappling, leading to a unanimous decision win for the Irishman. Despite the victory, the lack of action disappointed many fans who expected an exciting stand-up battle.
Fan Discontent
UFC fans took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with Garry’s performance and strategy. Garry, already unpopular among some due to a controversy involving his wife, faced severe backlash. The criticism escalated during his interview on ‘The MMA Hour Show’ with Ariel Helwani, where fans created a viral comment chain disowning the Irish fighter.
Trolled by Fans Worldwide
The comment chain began with Irish fans disowning Garry and offering him to Brazil: “Ian Garry is not liked in Ireland. He’s definitely not the pride of Ireland. Brazil can have him.” Brazilians, while appreciative, declined, suggesting Africa might take him instead: “Thank you for your kind offer, but on behalf of the Brazilians, we must refuse. Maybe the Africans will take him.”
Citing slots unavailable to Africans, the Arabs offered: “Unfortunately there are no places in Africa at the moment. Maybe the Arabs will find him.” The Arabs also refused, and the United States was informed: “Brothers in Salam, unfortunately, the Arab state must accept such a statement. Maybe the Americans will take it.”
The Rejection of Americans
The overwhelmingly winning and competitive Americans showed no interest in Gary: “We Americans don’t want to do business with this Gary fellow. But please bring the hawk-tuah girl Someone ask the Russians?” The Russians dealing with the violence in Dagestan offered Gary India: “Sorry comrade, we have our hands full with the Dagestan situation. Maybe the Indians can correct it to present it as a myth.”
Even the Indians, when there was no UFC-ranked fighter, rejected Gary, saying, “There is no fighter like us in India in the UFC. That being said, we’re going to take him to Antarctica.”
Surprisingly, the fictional Antarcticians also made a soundtrack to Gary jokingly admitting, “Our proud people in Antarctica are not equipped to house Mr. Gary. Maybe he can join the planets of Mars?”
In between trolling, Gary began dealing with the backlash on social media. “I fight to win, not just to have fun. Respect the grind,” he tweeted, trying to remind fans of his commitment to his craft. However, reactions were mixed, with some fans expressing support while others remained critical.
Ian Garry’s Future
Gary’s ambition to emulate McGregor faces obstacles when fans question his recent performances and personality. Despite that success, Gary’s style and public opinion may require an adjustment to regain the support of the fans. The viral trolling, while funny, highlights a deeper challenge for Gary to connect with fans and cement his place in MMA. His next fight will be crucial in establishing his legacy and proving that he deserves to be a real contender.
