SÃO PAULO — Fresh off his seventh consecutive victory in the octagon, Ian Machado Garry has wasted no time in targeting his next opponent: Colby Covington.
Following a dominant unanimous decision win over Geoff Neal at UFC 298, Garry is eager to step into the cage against Covington, with hopes of securing a showdown at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas.
In a recent interview at Tiro Certo Golfe studio in São Paulo, Garry minced no words in expressing his desire to face Covington, emphasizing his readiness to fight anytime, anywhere.
“Look, if Colby wants to fight in his back garden tomorrow, I will fly to Miami and fight him in his back garden,” Garry declared. “I just want him as the opponent. I want him to be a man and step into the octagon and face his fears. God will give me Colby Covington whenever, wherever I want him, and he will say, ‘Ian, have fun.’”
Garry's motivation to fight Covington stems from the latter's reputation and the disparaging remarks he has made about Garry and his family.
“I want to fight him because of all the s*** that he has talked about me and my family,” Garry explained. “But I also know that even if it was the best Colby Covington we ever seen, he would never stand a chance against me. No matter how good Colby Covington ever could be, he would never be able to beat me. I’m too elite. I’m too fast. I’m too technically brilliant. He just doesn’t stand a chance."
While Garry expressed a desire to fight in Brazil, he acknowledged the unlikelihood of Covington accepting such a proposition, given his past comments about the country.
“I don’t think Colby Covington wants to come back to Rio after all the s*** he said last time he was in Brazil versus Demian [Maia],” Garry remarked. “But I will fight in Brazil one day, and I will be so happy to put on the yellow shorts and be the main event in Brazil, carrying the Irish flag on one shoulder and the Brazilian flag on the other.”
As speculation mounts regarding a potential matchup between Garry and Covington, the Irish fighter issued a stern warning to his prospective opponent.
“You don’t deserve to be here,” Garry declared. “All of Brazil is going to have a smile on their face when I knock you unconscious and leave you in a puddle of your own blood, face down on the canvas. Colby, you’re done. Fala tchau. [Say bye.]”