The Ian Machado Garry next fight news should arrive in the coming months, but until then we offer up three opponent options and look back at his pivotal victory in June at UFC 303.
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Who will Ian Machado Garry next fight be against?
In June, Garry made his awaited return to the UFC in a difficult matchup with fellow striker Michal Page. While the bout was one of the lowlights of the card, the Irishman still scored a major victory at UFC 303 and extended his win streak to eight inside the Octagon. That is why he will likely get another ranked opponent next, and Kamaru Usman, Jack Della Maddalena, and Shavkat Rahkmonov make sense for his next fight.
- Nigerian Nightmare: The former champion is in the midst of an uncharacteristic three-fight losing skid and needs a win to halt his relevancy fall. Taking on an elite prospect with a lot of hype around him could be a worthwhile risk for Usman.
- The Aussie: Della Maddalena is the other big-time prospect in the welterweight division. A bout to decide who is the new future face of the weight class makes a lot of sense for both men.
- Nomad: Rahkmonov has evolved from an elite prospect to one of the scariest fighters at 170 pounds. With both being top five fighters in our latest welterweight rankings, pairing the two to decide a new No. 1 contender could be a route the UFC goes.
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Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page recap
Many fight fans had concerns the Garry vs. Page scrap at UFC 303 would not live up to hopes, and it didn’t. But in the end, Ian Machado Garry got another big pelt to add to his wall and a step closer to a welterweight title shot.
What happened: “Venom” Page is one of the hardest puzzles to solve in the sport when it comes to a fight on the feet. While Garry is a very talented striker, even he decided that taking the bout to the ground was the smarter decision. And instead of a chess match on the feet, the fight devolved into an unexciting ground battle over three rounds.
The fallout: It wasn’t pretty but a win is a win and Garry extended his streak to eight. It was a big name to get on his resume and bolstered his standing as one of the new faces at 170 pounds in the UFC.
What’s next? Machado likely could get another booking before the year ends, and facing an aging legend like Kamaru Usman would be typical of the UFC’s star-building strategy.
What makes Ian Garry so popular?
“The Future” has only had 13 fights during his career, however, in just seven short years he has become one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC and is primed to be their next big star out of Ireland. Although he still has much to prove, many believe he could be the welterweight version of countryman Conor McGregor.
- Ian Garry record: 15-0 (7 KOs, 1 Submission)
- Ian Garry weight class: Welterweight
- Ian Garry wife: The Irishman started dating Layla Anna-Lee early in 2021 and almost a year later the pair were married.
- Like many fellow UK fighters, Garry built his reputation fighting in the legendary English promotion Cage Warriors. Before heading to the UFC he was their welterweight champion.
- Many fight fans compare him to Conor McGregor not just because of their Irish roots, but because he has a similar uncanny self-belief that borders on elite-level cocky.
- During his UFC tenure, he has scored impressive wins over established fighters like Neil Magny and Daniel Rodriguez.
- Garry trains out of Kill Cliff gym in Florida where he works with world-class fighters like Gilbert Burns, Michael Chandler, and Vicente Luque.
- His wife was at the center of a strange backlash from fellow fighters like Sean Strickland for her book, “How to Be a WAG.”
Ian Garry net worth
Money is often the greatest determiner of success in the fight game. While he is still early in his career, Ian Garry’s net worth in 2024 is estimated to be $1.5 million.