Ian Garry vows to bring Octagon back to Ireland ahead of UFC 285 return: ‘Don’t worry, that’s happening’

Ian Garry UFC 285 DublinUndefeated UFC welterweight contender, Ian Garry has promised to land the Octagon back to the Emerald Island for the first time since 2014 before the close of this year – if not the beginning of next year, as he prepares to return to active competition this weekend against Kenan Song at UFC 285. Garry, a […]

Ian Garry UFC 285 Dublin

Undefeated UFC welterweight contender, Ian Garry has promised to land the Octagon back to the Emerald Island for the first time since 2014 before the close of this year – if not the beginning of next year, as he prepares to return to active competition this weekend against Kenan Song at UFC 285.

Garry, a former undisputed welterweight champion under the banner of the Graham Boylan-led Cage Warriors banner, looks to improve to 4-0 under the UFC banner this weekend on the UFC 285 pay-per-view card, clashing with Song as he puts his unbeaten 10-0 record on the line.

In his Octagon debut, Portmarnock native, Ian Garry stopped Jordan Williams with a buzzer-beating first round knockout at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden, before turning in impressive unanimous decision results over both Darian Weeks, and Gabe Gabriel – the most recent of which back in July of last year during International Fight Week.

Ian Garry continues campaign to land on UFC card alongside Conor McGregor

Sharing his intentions to land on a card alongside fellow Dubliner, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor in the future, Garry, now under the tutelage of Henri Hooft at Kill Cliff FC in Deerfield Beach, Florida – claimed it was a no-brainer to feature both on the same card.

Putting me and Conor (McGregor) on the same card is just obvious,” Ian Garry told TalkSPORT reporter, Jordan Ellis. “You’ve got the biggest start the sport has ever seen coming back against somebody who is equally as loved by the fans in (Michael) Chandler.

It would be a massive, massive platform for me to go out there and put somebody to sleep and just keep proving what I already know to the fans,” Ian Garry explained. 

Expressing his desire to fight in his native Ireland – in what would come as the UFC’s first venture to the island since an O2 Arena show in 2014 where McGregor headlined against Diego Brandao, Garry admitted that while an Aviva Stadium or Croke Park show was unlikely, the Octagon will most definitely return to Dublin soon.

As much as I would love it, I don’t think they (the UFC) are going to do Croke Park, Aviva Stadium, or anything of the likes purely for the fact of timing. I’m going to bring the UFC back to Dublin, I’ll do that. Don’t worry, that’s happening. I’ll bring them back at the end of the year or the start of next [year]. They are coming back.” 

Ian Garry Says Colby Covington Ignoring Fight Proposal

Ian Garry recently claimed that the UFC has offered him a fight against Colby Covington; however, he noted that the potential matchup is only halfway to becoming a reality. Garry and Covington have been caught up in a heated feud for nearly a year, with both fighters repeatedly expressing their eagerness to settle their differences […]

Continue Reading Ian Garry Says Colby Covington Ignoring Fight Proposal at MMA News.

Ian Garry recently claimed that the UFC has offered him a fight against Colby Covington; however, he noted that the potential matchup is only halfway to becoming a reality.

Garry and Covington have been caught up in a heated feud for nearly a year, with both fighters repeatedly expressing their eagerness to settle their differences in the Octagon. Notably, the Irishman has been actively seeking this matchup.

“The Future” recently posted an Instagram video where he revealed that he agreed to a fight with Covington a month ago, but he has yet to receive any word from “Chaos”.

“What’s up, everyone? So, I’m coming on to let everybody know, keep everybody in the loop, and keep everyone updated because it matters,” Garry said. “A month ago, I was offered a fight with Colby Covington. It took me all of 20 seconds to respond to the email saying, ‘Yes, I’m in.’ A month later, we still have no response from Colby. He’s avoiding me like the plague, and there’s one reason and one reason only this fight isn’t happening, and his name is Colby Covington.”

According to recent media reports, UFC matchmakers are looking to pair Garry and Covington as the headliners for a Fight Night event in Tampa, Florida, on December 14. However, with less than two months remaining, there has yet to be any official confirmation.

Garry is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Michael Page at UFC 303 in June. He remains undefeated in his professional career, with an impressive eight-fight winning streak in the UFC. A potential clash with Covington would enhance his status in the UFC welterweight division, propelling him closer to a title shot.

Meanwhile, “Chaos” has been inactive since suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss in his third attempt at the 170-pound title against then-champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296 in December 2023. Covington’s last victory dates back to March 2022, when he triumphed over his former friend-turned-rival Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272.

Continue Reading Ian Garry Says Colby Covington Ignoring Fight Proposal at MMA News.

‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady & MVP

Belal Muhammad has been as vocal as he can be since winning the UFC welterweight championship against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. His ten-fight unbeaten streak in the division finally led to him winning gold, and he’s now firing back at all his doub…

Belal Muhammad has been as vocal as he can be since winning the UFC welterweight championship against Leon Edwards at UFC 304. His ten-fight unbeaten streak in the division finally led to him winning gold, and he’s now firing back at all his doubters. As impressive as Muhammad was in his last fight, fans are […]

Continue Reading ‘Matchmaker’ Belal Muhammad Suggests Fights For Top UFC Welterweights Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards, Sean Brady & MVP at MMA News.

Ian Garry’s UFC Return Date, Opponent Revealed

UFC welterweight Ian Garry will return at UFC 285 on March 4th, adding to a stacked card for the month’s first of two pay-per-views. Garry will face Song Kenan as he looks to win his fourth fight in the Octagon. The UFC announced the news of the …

UFC welterweight Ian Garry will return at UFC 285 on March 4th, adding to a stacked card for the month’s first of two pay-per-views. Garry will face Song Kenan as he looks to win his fourth fight in the Octagon. The UFC announced the news of the fight on Friday. Garry most recently defeated Gabe…

Continue Reading Ian Garry’s UFC Return Date, Opponent Revealed at MMA News.

Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’

At 41-years-old, Stephen Thompson knows that he is much closer to the end of his run in mixed martial arts than the start of it. Whilst he has been more than happy to take on the new blood at the top of the welterweight division, like his next clash against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307, […]

Continue Reading Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’ at MMA News.

At 41-years-old, Stephen Thompson knows that he is much closer to the end of his run in mixed martial arts than the start of it.

Whilst he has been more than happy to take on the new blood at the top of the welterweight division, like his next clash against Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307, there are still some big fights for “Wonderboy” before he walks away.

Two names stand out the most at 170-pounds due to their striking pedigree which would allow Thompson to do what he does best, rather than spending his final fights defending takedowns.

Ian Garry met Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 where the undefeated Irishman continued his ascent up the rankings by relying on his takedowns to get the win.

Both opponents are fights that many would like to see Thompson step into but he only agrees with one of the two options.

Stephen Thompson Explains Why He’s Open To Fighting Ian Garry But Not Michael ‘Venom’ Page

During a recent interview with Michael Bisping on the Believe You Me Podcast, Thompson gave his thoughts on facing Garry and Page before he hangs up the gloves.

Garry, who is ranked higher than “Wonderboy” at #7, is a fight that he’s certainly up for but he can understand why the Irishman may not be so keen on it given his undefeated run.

“I think it would be great, especially Ian Garry but at this point in time, I kind of see where he’s at like he’s just looking for the gold. I don’t think he would even want to give me a chance. I’m ranked #9, he’s close to the title, I think he’s looking for that next.”

From the moment that “MVP” signed to the UFC, seeing Page and Thompson square off was a potential match-up that got fans excited because they’re both such specialist strikers.

However, both men took an early stance that the fight probably wouldn’t deliver because they’re too similar to one another, which would create a stand-off.

“And MVP, I think it would be, I think the fans would love that fight but…”

After Bisping jokes that it would be nothing but both men keeping their hands down and circling one another, Thompson expanded on why he isn’t that interested in that fight even if it appears to be something that the fans want to see.

“That’s the thing, I think it would just be that. Just moving around and staring at each other the whole time. We’re both counter strikers, you know, we got that karate background, we want guys to come forward so they run into our techniques, so we can work our angles, so we can blitz but when you have another counter striker on the other side of the Octagon with you, it could possibly be one of the most boring fights ever and I think people would boo it. I think people would boo that fight, I really do man.”

Thompson also made reference to Garry’s fight against Page where he looked to press the action rather than counterstriking with “MVP”.

He gave this as his reasoning for why the Garry match-up wouldn’t have the same outcome as the one against Page.

Read also: Kamaru Usman Compares Career To Israel Adesanya & Alexander Volkanovski Ahead Of Rumored Return Against Belal Muhammad: ‘How Disrespectful Are MMA Fans’

Continue Reading Stephen Thompson On Welterweight Star He Wants To Fight Instead Of Michael ‘Venom’ Page: ‘I Think People Would Boo That Fight’ at MMA News.

Bryan Barberena accepts Ian Garry callout: ‘Does a bear s**t in the woods?’

Bryan BarberenaUFC welterweight Bryan Barberena accepts call out from up-and-comer, Ian Garry. Garry, 25, last fought in a winning effort against Gabe Green at UFC 276 in July of last year, marking the Irishman’s third pay-per-view appearance in his three fights for the promotion. Now though, Gary has turned his attention to welterweight veteran, Barberena, who […]

Bryan Barberena

UFC welterweight Bryan Barberena accepts call out from up-and-comer, Ian Garry.

Garry, 25, last fought in a winning effort against Gabe Green at UFC 276 in July of last year, marking the Irishman’s third pay-per-view appearance in his three fights for the promotion.

Now though, Gary has turned his attention to welterweight veteran, Barberena, who has fought the who’s who of the UFC 170lb division. Talking to GiveMeSport, Garry explained that his sights are fully locked onto Barberena and hopes to stand across from the American.

Everything starts with Bryan Barberena”, Garry said. “His last two fights have been against former champions and now he could fight the future champion. “Obviously he beat a teammate of mine in Robbie Lawler so I’d love to get that one back for the team.

Not that it necessarily means anything to Robbie or the guys but anytime I can beat a guy who has beaten a teammate of mine I’ll always take that opportunity.

Bryan Barberena responds

Garry would also tweet Barberena, to which of course, the ever-game 33-year-old was quick to accept the proposition.

Barberena has tested some of the very elite in the division before such as Leon Edwards and Colby Covington, but most recently enjoyed his best from in his UFC tenure, compiling a three-fight win streak over Darian Weeks, Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler.

While Barberena might not be world champion material or even ranked, he brings finishing ability, experience and is an undeniably tough matchup. He is the perfect type of fighter for a prospect such as Garry to be measured against, along with being a highly entertaining action fighter

How does Ian Garry Vs. Bryan Barbering go?