Michael Page explains how Ian Machado Garry could pull off a shock win over Islam Makhachev

It’s been almost two years since Michael Page faced Ian Machado Garry, a fight he lost by unanimous decision back at UFC 303 in June 2024.

Since then, the British fighter has been complimentary of Garry’s growth in the sport, especially with a possible fight against Islam Makhachev on the horizon.

“To be fair, his fight against Belal [Muhammad] somewhat – not shocked me – but I was very impressed with that fight,” Page said when asked about Makhachev vs Garry during an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow’s Kyle Dimond.

“I do think he’s a very smart fighter. He’s got great striking ability, obviously his length is going to play a part, and he’s difficult to take down and keep down. He gets up. He knows his positions, and his jiu-jitsu is at a very decent level.”

But even with all that praise for Garry, MVP admitted there are some real issues ahead of him if the fight happens.

Makhachev is renowned for his ground game, and Page said there aren’t many fighters who can handle what he does once they’re taken down.

Page also pointed out that while Garry does have ways to win—such as keeping the fight standing—it might be tough for him to pull it off. He noted that unlike Kamaru Usman or Jack Della Maddalena, Garry doesn’t really have the power needed to wear down someone like Makhachev over five rounds.

MVP did say one thing working in Garry’s favor was that he would have already spent time preparing for Makhachev earlier in camp. That could give him an edge if things move forward again this time around.

Michael Page set for UFC return against Sam Patterson

Page hasn’t fought at welterweight since his loss to Ian Machado Garry, but he is set to return to the division next month.

In 2025, he notched up notable middleweight victories over Shara Magomedov and Jared Cannonier.

Page is scheduled to face Sam Patterson in a 170lb bout at UFC London on March 21.

“Not (a fight) that I expected or was even looking for,” Page admitted last week.

“It’s annoying for me because it’s not just an opponent that feels further down the ladder, he’s also someone that I’ve worked with before, as well, in preparation for other fights, so I know him well, so it’s another reason why I didn’t really want to have this fight.

“More so because again, I came here for big fights, I came here for big names. Since my last fight, I’ve been asking for absolutely everybody and for different reasons, it seems no one is willing to take the fight.”

“It’s definitely not the fight I was looking for… Definitely not a fight I wanted… “I’m not sure what winning a fight like this means outside of a potential highlight reel.”