Ian Garry's 'Takeover Part Two' is lacking the love of the Irish

If you were there when it happened, you cannot walk through the halls of the MGM Grand without remembering a sea of tricolours, the sing-songs and the passion of the travelling Irish support during Conor McGregor’s heyday.

From 2014 to 2017, on a McGregor fight week, the infamous Las Vegas strip felt like a tropical Henry Street. They travelled in their tens of thousands, routinely having multi-million dollar impacts on Sin City each time 'The Notorious' took to centerstage.

The UFC called it the 'Irish Takeover' in homage to the Irishman’s legendary post-fight call to action, "We’re not here to take part, we’re here to takeover", uttered after his knockout win over Diego Brandao in Dublin. The event projected McGregor around the world as an icon and was the foundation for his scintillating run to two UFC titles.

There’s a new Irishman in the UFC who is set to make his Sin City bow at UFC 276, the focal point of the promotion’s tenth annual International Fight Week.

Ian 'The Future' Garry has already notched two wins with the promotion in as many outings and should he make it three in a row, he will join a list of just three Irish fighters who have done so before – McGregor, Cathal Pendred and Norman Parke.

Yet, the resounding hype from Ireland that McGregor felt during his pomp has yet to be realised by the Malahide man.

Lofty Comparisons

Garry is arguably the most talent-rich Irish fighter that the UFC has seen since 'The Notorious'.

He remembers trying to crash into bars after hours on his holidays in Alicante, desperate to see McGregor's Las Vegas performances and wishing that someday he would be in the same spot.

Since the second he emerged in the Dana White promotion, the comparisons have been coming in thick and fast, not