LAS VEGAS – Gabe Green expects to be Ian Garry’s toughest test to date.
Green (11-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) faces undefeated rising star Garry (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a welterweight bout on Saturday’s UFC 276 prelims at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Since dropping his UFC debut on short notice to Daniel Rodriguez, Green has picked up a decision win over Phil Rowe and a finish of Yohan Lainesse. Garry is not short of confidence, but Green thinks he’s likely underestimating him.
“I mean, he’s in the UFC,” Green told reporters Wednesday at UFC 276 media day. “He doesn’t suck. He’s good. He has skills. His opponents weren’t super good, in my opinion, so it’s going to be interesting to see how he deals with me, who I think is a step up in competition compared to who he’s fought so far.
“You’ve got to walk around with a little bit of cockiness when you’re here, and definitely some self-belief. I think he’s getting just a little big-headed and might be overlooking some people that he shouldn’t be overlooking.”
Green admits that despite all the hype surrounding Garry, he didn’t initially know who he was.
“Right after I beat Yohan, one of my teammates, Josh Jones, was like, ‘You should fight this Ian Garry kid next,’” Green said. “I looked at him and I was like, ‘I have no idea who that is.’ To be honest with you guys, I don’t watch a lot of fights. I more listen to my team and my coaches to find out anything about anybody about who I’m going to fight. I’m more worried about my own skills and building myself as a fighter.”
UFC 276 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Check out the full media day interview with Green in the video above.