Tag: Ian Garry

Ian Garry’s wife, Layla Anna-Lee, ‘baffled’ by Jon Anik’s apology to toxic MMA fans: ‘No way I can accept this’

Ian Garry wife Layla Anna-Lee on Jon Anik apologyLayla Anna-Lee, the wife of UFC welterweight standout Ian Garry, has interjected herself into the recent drama involving longtime…

Ian Garry wife Layla Anna-Lee on Jon Anik apology

Layla Anna-Lee, the wife of UFC welterweight standout Ian Garry, has interjected herself into the recent drama involving longtime play-by-play man Jon Anik.

Following UFC 297’s contentious title tilt between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, Anik voiced his opinion that ‘DDP’ was the rightful winner of the closely contested contest. That seemingly struck a chord with fight fans online who expressed their differing opinions in an NSFW way. That prompted Anik to deliver a viral rant, sharing his frustration over the increasingly toxic MMA fanbase. He even went so far as to suggest that those particular fans will be what ultimately drives him away from the UFC.

Anik’s words caused a massive media storm, with practically every outlet reporting on Anik’s intentions to retire soon and the fanbase’s role in his decision. That prompted Anik to apologize to fight fans on Instagram, making it clear that he was in a “heightened emotional state” and made some “regrettable comments relating to the MMA fanbase.”

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Jon Anik (@jon_anik)

Ian Garry’s Wife Refuses to Accept Jon Anik’s Apology

Everyone was seemingly ready to move on following the apology, but there’s one person in particular who has refused to accept his expression of regret.

Layla Anna-Lee responded to the post and made it clear that Anik has nothing to apologize for and thus, she will not accept it.

“Baffled by the apology,” Anna-Lee wrote on the comments. “No way can I accept this. No way. You don’t have a right to an opinion now? “Free speech” is only for haters? No.”

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Anna-Lee found herself the subject of many headlines last year after it was revealed that the 40-year-old TV personality had written a book entitled How to Be a Wag. The 11-page scribe is described as a guidebook designed to teach older women how to date and marry younger celebrities and athletes.

Given that she is 14 years older than Garry, the news spread like wildfire, particularly when former middleweight champion Sean Strickland chimed in, calling her a “succubus” and a “predator.”

Leon Edwards speaks on Ian Garry’s expulsion from his gym: ‘They think it’s all about them more than the team’

Leon EdwardsEven as a UFC world champion, if Leon Edwards is late to the gym, he has to clean it….

Leon Edwards

Even as a UFC world champion, if Leon Edwards is late to the gym, he has to clean it.

That’s just one of the rules that ‘Rocky’ abides by at his gym, Team Renegade, in Birmingham, England. During a recent appearance on Up Front with Simon Jordan, the reigning welterweight titleholder spoke about the close-knit culture of his gym which has helped him become not only one of the best fighters in the world but a well-rounded and respectful human being.

The basic rules of the gym are if you’re late you clean the mats,” Edwards said. “To this day, if I’m late, even as a world champion, I clean. There’s a culture in our gym and it teaches the younger guys coming up under you respect and that you’re not bigger than the gym. Not bigger that what’s going on here in the gym.

“I feel like some people come to the gym and they’re kind of like… They think it’s all about them more than the gym and the team. We’re all working toward this one goal to be a world champion. One hand washes the other. You have to be disciplined. You have to have manners. I still abide by the rules and that makes me more relatable to the guys in the gym.”

Edwards’ comments come a few months after fellow UFC welterweight Ian Machado Garry was forced out of the gym after it became apparent that Garry was “not adding to the team’s culture”

Garry was quick to blame the expulsion on Edwards, claiming the champ had “insecurities or doubts” about having another ranked contender in the same division inside the gym. Representatives with Team Renegade quickly snapped back, making it clear that Garry’s “nomadic” approach to training was simply not meshing with the culture they’ve worked hard to develop.

Leon Edwards Looks Back on Colby Covington’s Vile Comment About His Deceased Father

Leon Edwards’ last turn inside the Octagon came at UFC 295 in December when he returned to defend his welterweight title against divisional gatekeeper Colby Covington. Despite a long layoff and a mediocre 2-2 record in his last four fights, ‘Chaos’ managed to talk his way into yet another title shot that he ultimately fumbled when it came time to stop talking and start performing.

Ahead of their clash inside T-Mobile Arena, Covington drew the ire of fighters and fans alike after he made a particularly vile crack about Leon Edwards‘ deceased father. The comment nearly sparked a brawl between the two, but cooler heads prevailed and a scuffle was avoided.

Looking back on the incident, ‘Rocky’ realizes that Covington was simply doing what he does to sell fights. But he also believes that there is a very fine line and ‘Chaos’ clearly crossed it in that instance.

“It took a lot for me to calm down, but initially… It’s not really drawing the line, but it just shows what kind of person he is. He’s a scumbag to use that to sell a fight,” Edwards said. “I know he does what he does. He talks sh*t, Donald Trump, and blah, blah, blah. I kind of roll with it, but when he goes that low, I think it just shows what type of human being you are. I don’t believe they should use the death of someone’s parents or anyone to sell fights. There’s nothing in it.

“It took a lot for me to refocus my brain and calm down and believe that he’s doing it just to draw me out so he can go out there and fight his fight.”

Following the altercation, Edwards got some calming words from his coaches and his family which helped him to go into the fight with a clear head rather than emotionally charged.

“The UFC did a great job of keeping us apart so I wasn’t able to see him or get to him before the fight,” Edwards continued. “I talked to my coaches, my mom, and everyone. They were like, calm down. Don’t play into his hands. Don’t go out there emotional and start scrapping with him and playing into his game plan.”

Asked if what Covington said made it more enjoyable to step inside the Octagon with him, Edwards couldn’t deny that the hurtful words from his challenger made it easier and much more desirable to punch him in the face come fight night.

“It makes it easier to fight him. It makes you look forward to hurting him,” he added. “I feel like it definitely helps. Give you more of that [desire] to physically hurt them so it helps as far as competing, but does it help selling the fight? For me, no. I feel like you shouldn’t do it.”

Though no official announcement has been made, Leon Edwards is expected to put his title on the line later this year against No. 2 ranked contender Belal Muhammad.

Ian Garry Reacts to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 297 Title Clash: ‘I’m Watching Two Amateurs Fight’

Ian Garry reacts to Sean Strickland vs. DDP at UFC 297Welterweight standout Ian Garry was not impressed with the performances of Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis at UFC…

Ian Garry reacts to Sean Strickland vs. DDP at UFC 297

Welterweight standout Ian Garry was not impressed with the performances of Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297.

After five entertaining rounds of action, Du Plessis emerged victorious, scoring a closely contested split decision to claim his first UFC championship. While most of the MMA community was busy debating who deserved to leave Scotiabank Arena with the middleweight title around their waist, ‘The Future’ chose to display his disfavor for the promotion’s first pay-per-view headliner of 2024.

In a video posted to Garry’s social media, the fast-rising contender was unamused, going so far as to call Strickland and Du Plessis a couple of amateurs as they proceeded to slug it out during the latter half of their 25-minute affair.

“The f*cking state of this,” Garry commented while watching the title bout play out. “Zero technique. Just slugging it out now. Oh my god, I’m watching two amateurs fight. Oh my god. My dear Jesus Christ, if I ever have a fight like that, please tell me to retire.”

Of course, there is no love lost between Ian Garry and Sean Strickland after ‘Tarzan’ attacked Garry’s relationship with his wife, 40-year-old TV personality Layla Anna-Lee. Strickland labeled her a “succubus” and a “predator” in a series of scathing rants that has ‘The Future’ plotting a potential showdown with Strickland inside the Octagon.

“F*ck you, Sean Strickland,” Garry said following Bruce Buffer’s announcement that Du Plessis was the new middleweight champ. “Now that fight’s even more available.”

Sean Strickland Goes Off On Ian Garry Ahead of UFC 297, Accuses ‘The Future’ of ‘Hiding Who He Is’

Sean Strickland and Ian GarryIt’s safe to say the rivalry between Sean Strickland and Ian Garry isn’t going away anytime soon. On Saturday…

Sean Strickland and Ian Garry

It’s safe to say the rivalry between Sean Strickland and Ian Garry isn’t going away anytime soon.

On Saturday night (January 20), Strickland is scheduled to defend his middleweight world title for the very first time as he meets South African knockout artist Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 297 headliner. Hours ahead of their highly anticipated clash, Strickland was speaking with members of the media when Ian Garry’s name unsurprisingly came up.

Strickland and Garry have been jawing at one another since late last year when the 185-pound king targeted the welterweight contender’s unconventional relationship with his wife and TV personality Layla Anna-Lee. Strickland’s biggest issue was the fact that Anna-Lee, who is 14 years older than Garry, wrote a guidebook for older women looking to date young athletes and celebrities. Garry and his wife later came out explaining that the 11-page publication, entitled How to Be a WAG, was meant to be satirical, but that didn’t stop Strickland from levying accusations and dubbing Anna-Lee a “succubus” and a “predator.”

Since then, Garry has made it clear that he plans to move up to middleweight and settle things with Strickland inside the Octagon.

Asked about Garry’s intentions during Wednesday’s press conference, Strickland delivered another profanity-laced rant that targeted ‘The Future’ and his marriage.

“The cuck? Does he really want to fight me,” Strickland asked before getting clarification from a member of the media. Ian Garry is such a f*cking c*nt. When you guys interview him, do you ever ask him, ‘Hey, what are you going to do when she’s 60 and you’re 40? Are you allowed to f*ck other women?’ God, I hate the f*cking guy so f*cking much.

“If Ian Garry was right in front of me, I’d f*cking fight him. Ian Garry is a piece of sh*t. I think we can all agree that Ian Garry is a piece of sh*t.”

Ian Garry was expected to make his return to the Octagon last month at UFC 296 against Vicente Luque, but the Irishman was forced to withdraw after coming down with a case of pneumonia days ahead of fight night. He has since been booked for a clash with Geoff Neal at UFC 298 on February 17.

Fighters and fans immediately accused Garry of weaseling his way off the card to avoid the barrage of insults waiting at the event’s pre-fight festivities.

“Ian Garry is a f*cking weak man and that’s what I try to tell people,” Strickland continued. “You meet these c*nts all day long and they smile and they shake your hand, but really their core is f*cking rotten. You look at me, I’m an a**hole. I say hard sh*t. I’m just saying what you’re thinking. Ian Garry is a c*nt and he hides who he is.”

Ian Garry Promises to Take Colby Covington’s voice away with brutal beatdown inside the octagon

Ian Garry and Colby CovingtonRising welterweight contender Ian Garry has vowed to get revenge against the division’s outspoken gatekeeper, Colby Covington. During a…

Ian Garry and Colby Covington

Rising welterweight contender Ian Garry has vowed to get revenge against the division’s outspoken gatekeeper, Colby Covington.

During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Garry offered up a hit list of fighters with whom he plans to settle scores with in the new year. Unsurprisingly, Covington was one of the three names that ‘The Future’ dropped. Going into last month’s UFC 296 pay-per-view, ‘Chaos’ targeted Garry and his wife, 40-year-old TV personality Layla Anna-Lee in a series of scathing comments.

Covington regularly referred to Garry as a “cuck” and suggested that he had attempted to “make a hoe a housewife.”

Needless to say, Garry didn’t take kindly to Covington’s comments about his wife and has threatened to permanently take away the three-time title challenger’s voice with a brutal beatdown inside the Octagon.

“He’s talked about me,” Garry said of Covington. “He’s mentioned my wife. He obviously lost the fight against [Edwards]. Colby is someone who wants those big fights, someone who’s gonna chat sh*t, someone who’s gonna entertain the fans, someone who’s gonna bring a lot of hype to the event.

“I am going to box the ears off Colby Covington for the things he’s said, and there isn’t gonna be anybody in that world or in this Octagon who’s going to be able to save, save him. I promise you now, I’ll finish him, and I’ll do it in three rounds. I don’t need five rounds to finish it. I’ll do it in two, I’ll do it in one.

“Colby Covington is going to be slapped, and I hope I hit him so hard that he’s never able to speak again. And I feel like a lot of people on this planet would be very happy that he never gets to speak on a mic again. So that’s what I’d like with Colby” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Ian Garry Hasn’t Forgotten About Sean Strickand

Of course, Covington wasn’t the only fighter to draw the ire of Ian Garry over the last few months.

Reigning middleweight world champion Sean Strickland released a series of videos lambasting Garry’s unconventional relationship as well. ‘Tarzan’ dubbed Garry’s wife a “succubus” and “predator” after learning that she had once written a guidebook for older women who want to date young athletes and celebrities entitled How to Be a Wag.

“I’d love Sean Strickland, because any man, or any person who ever talks or mentions me, my wife and my family in that way, I’m gonna get my hands on them,” Garry said. “And in an ideal world, toward the end of the year, I don’t think Sean’s going to be world champion any more, and I believe there’s absolutely an opportunity for me to step up to middleweight and give him a hiding, and maybe I’ll beat him so bad that he’ll forget all that trauma from his childhood and he can thank me.”

A fight between Ian Garry and Colby Covington is certainly within the realm of possibility considering both fighters currently occupy spots in the welterweight division’s top-10. In February, Garry is scheduled for a scrap with Geoff Neal at UFC 298.

Should ‘The Future’ come out on top and earn his 14th straight victory, a clash with ‘Chaos’ would be undoubtedly in reach.

Ian Garry promises stoppage win over UFC rival Colby Covington: ‘I’m going to box the ears off him’

Ian Garry vows to land finish over Colby Covington in UFC fight I'm gonna box the ears off himIan Garry claims that he would finish Colby Covington in one round having some unsavoury things to say about…

Ian Garry vows to land finish over Colby Covington in UFC fight I'm gonna box the ears off him

Ian Garry claims that he would finish Colby Covington in one round having some unsavoury things to say about Garry and his wife.

Garry has had a round few months and has seen his public image taken a considerable hit. The Irishman has always had critics during his time with the UFC, some felt he tried to copy compatriot Conor McGregor too much, but he has now become a meme within the MMA community. 

While things involving him and his family is really not anyone’s business, in hindsight he and his team, with his wife being his manger, have made several mistakes. Ian Garry makes a clear effort to create content for his social media, but this may have backfired on him after fans have not taken to his personality. This, along with several media appearances has quickly made him one of the most currently hated fighters and a target to other UFC athletes.

Ian Garry calls out Colby Covington

Appearing on The MMA Hour Garry would call out and criticize Covington, who has been one of the many fighters to make fun of Garry recently. 

“I am going to box the ears off Colby Covington for some of the things he has said and there isn’t going to be anyone in the world or in that Octagon who is going to be able to save him,” Garry said. “I promise you’ll know I’ll finish him and I’ll do it in three rounds. I don’t need five rounds to finish him, I’ll do it in two. I’ll do it in one. Colby Covington is going to be slept and I hope I hit him so hard that he is never able to talk again.”

Garry is currently scheduled to face Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in February and if his victorious, will be in line for a big fight. 

What is your opinion of Ian Garry?