Ian Machado Garry will have to defeat at least one more contender on his way to his first-ever UFC title shot as the undefeated welterweight striker has been booked to headline UFC Tampa on Dec. 14 from Tampa, Fla., alongside knockout sensation Joaquin Buckley.
UFC officials announced the main event matchup via social media on Friday. Check it out below:
Capping off the year with a BANGER @IanGarryMMA vs @NewMansa94 is the #UFCTampa MAIN EVENT!
Get tickets https://t.co/eoKeUgRb8k pic.twitter.com/QJofp85j9y
— UFC (@ufc) November 1, 2024
Garry, 26, is coming off a lackluster unanimous decision win over Michael Page at UFC 303 this past June, but the victory still extended his undefeated professional record to 15-0 (8-0 UFC). While eight-straight wins is usually good enough for a UFC title shot — especially for an outspoken Irish striker like Garry — UFC matchmakers still need to see a little more. And after former UFC welterweight title challenger Colby Covington declined to fight Garry twice the promotion finally turned to Buckley to help headline UFC Tampa.
Buckley, 30, has been as hot as anyone in the welterweight division since moving down from 185 pounds in 2023. Over the past 18 months, “New Mansa” has produced a perfect 5-0 record inside of the cage with three devastating knockout wins. None more important than his recent destruction of former UFC title challenger Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 307 earlier this month (highlights HERE).
This welterweight matchup between Garry and Buckley is unlikely to be pegged an official UFC title eliminator, but if either man is able to win in brutal fashion they are certainly candidates to skip the line heading into 2025.
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