Undefeated UFC #7 ranked welterweight star Ian Garry and former interim champion Colby Covington looked set for a collision course until two months ago. Garry, after his UFC 298 victory over Geoff Neal in February, had called out the #4 ranked ‘Chaos’ for a fight.

This prompted the 36-year-old to make a video insulting Garry and his beleaguered wife, Layla, in typical Colby Covington fashion. And Garry came back with his own video. This back and forth had fans hopeful of a UFC 303 showdown between the two. However, Garry later revealed that Covington had refused to sign the contract to fight him. On the other hand, ‘Chaos’ has denied this charge, claiming he wasn’t even offered the fight by the UFC. And Joe Rogan feels that a potential bout between the two falling through was a shame.

Joe Rogan really wanted to see Ian Garry vs. Colby Covington

Along with claiming that the UFC hadn’t offered him a Garry fight, Colby Covington had claimed that a fight with Garry “does nothing” for him. But the fact that this bout fell through has disappointed UFC commentator Joe Rogan. The JRE podcast host discussed this with his friends and comedians Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen on the Fight Companion show for UFC Saudi Arabia last Saturday.

“It’s kind of interesting that Ian Garry and Colby never came out because Ian was calling him out,” Rogan said. Which reminded Schaub that “Colby said he declined it ‘cuz he’s [Garry’s] not famous enough yet.”

Rogan found the bombastic Trump Supporter’s charge of the Irishman not being a big enough name completely contrary to the facts. Garry, after all, is one of the most recognizable (if not exactly popular after the controversy with his wife last year) fighters in all the UFC. In addition, he is still undefeated in his seven fights in the Dana White-led promotion, which is no mean feat in the UFC, the world’s toughest, most competitive MMA promotion in the world.

“That’s so crazy, and so incorrect. It’s so incorrect,” Rogan said. He felt that since Covington had lost three of his last five fights, a bout with the up-and-coming undefeated Garry would have been at the very least an interesting matchup. However, despite the skid in his recent form, Rogan was complimentary about ‘Chaos’s distance management and stamina.

“Colby was saying he’s not famous yet, but meanwhile, Colby’s lost most of his last fights. I think it’s an interesting fight ‘cuz Colby is a motherf**er, man. Talk all the s**t you want about that guy, but that guy can close the distance, his f**ing gas tank’s off the charts,” Rogan added and made his predictions for Garry’s upcoming fight.

Joe thinks ‘unorthodox’ ‘MVP’ will give Garry a ‘very hard time’

Ian Garry will now face striking maestro and veritable showman Michael ‘Venom’ Page on the main card of UFC 303 on June 29. And given how both men stack up stylistically, their bout is promising to be an electric affair.

Both men are strikers who rely on their hit-and-don’t-get-hit, almost point-scoring fighting style based upon clean, accurate strikes, speed, and excellent understanding of range to outwork their opponents. Since the fight will mostly be on the feet, a highly technical striking masterclass that goes the distance is expected between the two.

And Joe Rogan has made his predictions for Garry-‘MVP’, forecasting that the undefeated Irishman would have “a really hard time finding that guy.” The UFC commentator felt that since Garry had been rocked in the octagon before, and Page has an unorthodox style, he was leaning heavily towards ‘MVP.’ What are your predictions for UFC 303?