Ian Machado Garry likens Conor McGregor comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan

LAS VEGAS – Since he emerged in the international spotlight, the comparisons have been drawn from Ian Machado Garry to Conor McGregor.

There’s a nationality factor, admits Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who returns Saturday at UFC 303 vs. Michael Page (22-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC). The welterweight bout takes place at T-Mobile Arena.

Garry sees the similarities as jarring beyond that, though. His goals, hopes, dreams, and mindsets are similar to McGregor’s from years ago.

However, Garry doesn’t understand the weaponization of the comparison, as if it’s a bad thing that he hopes to mirror the success of the sport’s all-time biggest star.

At a pre-fight news conference Wednesday at the UFC Apex, Garry used two former NBA stars to make a point about his narrative ties to McGregor.

“Anyone saying that I am trying to be like Conor McGregor or I am trying to do something to be like Conor, I take that as a compliment,” Garry said. “He’s the greatest star the sport has ever seen. So if you’re comparing me to him, it means I’m doing something right. Now, people are saying I want to be like him. I’m not trying to be like him in any way, shape, or form. Have I been inspired by him? Absolutely. How many people talked about Kobe Bryant trying to be like Michael Jordan? Kobe Bryant went out and made a legacy of his own. Kobe Bryant went out and made a legacy of his own in his own way, but having similar traits and styles to Jordan.

“I’m born and bred from Dublin, Ireland. Conor was born and bred from Dublin, Ireland. He talks the talk and walks the walk and backs it up. I’m the exact same. Conor has done everything he’s said he’s going to do in his career. I have yet to prove what I have done and what I need to do. That’s my job. My job is to continue what I’m doing on my journey to destiny. The goal that I’ve been set, the destiny that’s been written for me, it’s my goal to do it my way. At the end of it, people are just going to say, ‘Wow, this kid was special. He just did it his own way.’ That’s the only way I look at it.”

Garry has never run from the McGregor comparisons. In fact, he’s largely embraced them. As a fellow Dubliner, Garry wanted to share a card with McGregor, which is the sole reason he took this fight altogether. Unfortunately for Garry, that dream will have to wait as McGregor withdrew due to injury.

“I wanted to fight around this time anyway,” Garry said. “Would I have waited until August maybe if someone was available to fight? Potentially. But it was too big an opportunity to miss or pass up on, to potentially fight on the same card as Conor, regardless of who the opponent was. I’ve made it very vocal. I have zero interest in fighting ‘MVP.’ I have no interest. What interested me was being on the same card as Conor.

“Now, I have to say I am grateful ‘MVP’ took the opportunity to take this fight. I am grateful he said yes. I’m grateful he’s going to show up and he’s going to bring it. But I was grateful because it was meant to be on a Conor card. Now, I’m going out here to steal the show. I’m going out here to show the world just how good I am. If Conor’s not here, there’s every reason I can be the biggest name on this card after this fight is done.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.