Dana White is not so sure that Ian Machado Garry’s case against Michael ‘Venom’ Page has too much merit.
The Irishman will kick off the UFC 303 main card against former Bellator star Page tonight, with fans expecting fireworks from the two strikers. And their heated build-up has seen Garry claim that he is going to have his rival suspended for attempting to infiltrate his fight camp.
Page is alleged to have attempted to get sensitive information from Garry’s camp in the lead-up to their fight by offering money to one of his coaches. The Irishman has claimed to have proof of this, but has not released any such evidence with the fight now just hours away.
Dana White dismisses Ian Machado Garry’s claims that Michael Page will be suspended after UFC 303
Dana White had to hold Garry and Page apart at the final weigh-in for UFC 303, with the pair bringing the most excitement to the ceremonial event. But asked at last night’s Power Slap event if he has any idea why Page would be suspended, he insisted it was little more than ‘mental warfare’ from the Irishman.
When it was put to White that Garry had been having a “very long conversation with the commission”, the UFC boss replied: “Mental warfare. I have no f***ing idea, I mean, as you get closer to the [fight] – what would the thing be?
“If he was trying to spend money to get someone into the camp what would he be charged with if that was the case? This kind of stuff happens, this ain’t the NFL where you’re filming other guys, I have no idea.
“To me it sounds like mental warfare, he’s trying to get in his head but literally, you probably know more than me.”
Ian Machado Garry threatens to have Michael Page suspended over bribery claims
During the press conference for tonight’s fights, Ian Machado Garry attempted to get in Michael Page’s head with claims that he had evidence of his team attempting to bribe his coaches. He claimed that the Brit had a jiu-jitsu coach who tried to pay for intimate details of his game plan.
“I’ve already broken this man’s confidence down so much,” Garry told Page during an intense back-and-forth. “He knows it, I don’t need to say what I’m talking about, you know exactly what I’m on about; your self-confidence is f***ed.”
Page seemed completely oblivious to what Garry was referring to, leading the former Cage Warriors champion to ask him: “Did you and your team offer thousands of dollars to get information in Chute Box from my boys?
“Did you send someone a message and offer thousands of dollars for information? Yet you couldn’t infiltrate the camp – the Chute Box family is too tight! Your little rat Jiu-Jitsu coach offered money to one of my Brazilian friends and you got nothing. Saturday night, you are f***ed!
“All I know is that you’re going to get suspended after this f***ing fight, you’re never fighting again after this fight. You and your Jiu-Jitsu coach are getting suspended for life.”
Despite Garry’s claims, there is little evidence of such an attempt by Page’s team. The British welterweight didn’t dignify the accusation with much of a response, and instead teased his rival into repeating himself before telling him to “shut the f*** up”.