Ian Garry and his personal life were among MMA fans’ most significant talking points in the lead-up to UFC 296. The online chatter even had several UFC fighters weighing in. The controversy around his late pull-out was massive, but MMA fans won’t have to wait long to see the Irish star back in the cage.
Garry pulled out of his scheduled bout at UFC 296 just three days before he was due to step into the Octagon. A bad case of pneumonia meant he could not compete on the card, but the UFC has already announced his return date.
Dana White surprised reporters at the post-fight press conference of UFC 296 by announcing the organisation had booked several fights for March’s upcoming UFC 299 card. The new matchups include the return of the controversial Irish fighter, who will now take on no.8 ranked Geoff Neal in Miami.
The matchup is a re-booking of a failed meeting between Garry and Neal initially slated for earlier in the year at UFC 292. It means Garry will no longer face Brazilian striker Vincente Luque, who will be disappointed to miss out on such a high-profile fight through no fault of his own.
The Irishman and his team had been the target of online hate throughout the build-up to UFC 299, leading many to speculate that his late pull-out was not actually due to illness. However, several MMA insiders have spoken to Garry and confirmed that he was suffering from some illness.
Earlier this year, a picture of Garry in a t-shirt featuring a mugshot of Geoff Neal riled a section of MMA fans. The American fighter was arrested for drinking and driving in 2021, and many felt Garry was wrong to use this for fight promotion. The publicity stunt has turned a lot of fans and several fighters against him and his team.
In the lead-up to UFC 296, Garry claimed he had been kicked out of the home gym of champion Leon Edwards because the Englishman ‘doesn’t want any insecurities or doubts on his own mats, within the gym’. A heavily debated statement that many believe broke the code of silence around MMA training. Garry has a history of training issues, having been asked to leave two other gyms recently.
While ‘The Future’ has courted controversy outside the cage, his record inside it is flawless. Garry’s record stands at 13-0, with six wins in the UFC. His impressive record is why major bookmakers have installed him as the favourite for the scheduled Miami clash.
Garry will likely continue his controversial promotional tactics in the build-up to UFC 299, but he should not take Neal lightly. The American will pose his toughest test in the UFC so far.