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UFC 298’s Ian Garry has no time for online haters and keyboard warriors: ‘I’m gonna live my life and do the way I want’

Despite all the hateful messages he receives online, Ian Garry has yet to meet a single fight fan in…

Despite all the hateful messages he receives online, Ian Garry has yet to meet a single fight fan in person who had anything negative to say about him.

On Saturday night, February 17, ‘The Future’ will return to the Octagon for a rescheduled showdown with fellow top-10 welterweight contender Geoff Neal after their first meeting at UFC 292 in August fell through. Leading up to their previously scheduled scrap, Garry drew the ire of fans and fighters alike after he was spotted sporting and selling t-shirts with Neal’s mugshot stemming from a 2021 arrest screen printed on the front.

Things seemed to snowball from there, particularly after former middleweight champion Sean Strickland targeted Garry’s 40-year-old wife — Layla Anna-Lee — after discovering that she had once written a book for older women hoping to date young athletes and celebrities. Anna-Lee is 14 years older than Garry. That revelation prompted Strickland to call in a “predator” and a “succubus” in a series of scathing rants.

Fighters including Leon Edwards, Colby Covington, and even Michael Chandler continued to pour it on Garry, revealing the constant struggles of trying to work alongside the up-and-comer in the gym.

A quick social media search and a scan of recent headlines will immediately give you the impression that Ian Garry is one of the most hated men in all of MMA. But speaking with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, ‘The Future’ revealed that the love and support he’s received from fight fans around the world has never been stronger.

Ian Machado Garry addresses the online hate he’s received over the last few months pic.twitter.com/awobWq73j2

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) February 15, 2024

“On Instagram and all of this stuff in the comments on Twitter,” Garry said. “All the negativity and all the hate, it’s only online. I’ve not met a single fan in person that has said one thing of hate. Not one. I’ve gone to Brazil. Different continents. I’ve gone to Europe. I’ve gone to America. South America. I’ve been recognized more than ever. I’ve been given the warmest welcomes more than ever. I can’t go down the street in the countryside in England in the middle of nowhere without someone going, ‘Holy sh*t!’

“We drove down California, there’s people here jumping out of cars trying to get a photo with me. This is nuts! I’m getting more recognized and more love in person than I ever have. It’s only online and it’s a small minority of people that hate and hate with such aggression. And the truth is, they’re all the Sean Strickland fans. They’re all the people that, truth is, they have a f*ck ton of trauma and nowhere else to spread it except online behind a laptop because they hate their life and they hate their past.

“I have no time for that. I love my life. I love what I’m surrounded by. I love the people I get to meet every day and that’s it. That’s what’s important to me. I’m gonna live my life and do the way I want to and have fun.”

Ian Garry vows to ‘Retire’ Colby Covington in heated fight after UFC 298 return: ‘I’m gonna get rid of the clown’

Unbeaten welterweight contender, Ian Garry has vowed to send former interim champion, Colby Covington into retirement in his next…

Unbeaten welterweight contender, Ian Garry has vowed to send former interim champion, Colby Covington into retirement in his next outing ahead of his return at UFC 298 this weekend against Geoff Neal, vowing to send the brash veteran packing from the promotion once and for all.

Garry, the current number ten ranked welterweight challenger, is set to make his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, booking a rescheduled pairing with Texan striker, Neal in a main card showdown in Anaheim.

Sidelined since August of last year, Portmarnock native, Garry most recently landed a one-sided unanimous decision win over division veteran, Neil Magny in a heated grudge fight at UFC 292 in Massachusetts.

Ian Garry wants to retire Colby Covington after UFC 298

And plotting his fighting future after his clash with Neal this weekend in California, Garry vowed to “thump the mouth off of” former undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland in the future – amid their ongoing rivalry, before claiming he would retire Covington next.

“I want to beat Geoff Neal in spectacular fashion this weekend, then I’m going to fight Colby Covington, and I’m going to retire him,” Ian Garry told assembled media during his availability ahead of UFC 298. “And I’m going to rid the clown from the UFC. Then I’ll take someone three, two or one in the world. I’ll beat them, and I’ll earn my title shot next year.”

“I think [Covington] has no other choice,” Ian Garry explained. “When I beat Geoff Neal on Saturday, there’s only one choice, and it’s what I say.”

Sidelined since last December, Clovis native, Covington headlined UFC 296, suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss to arch-rival, Leon Edwards in the pair’s undisputed welterweight championship showdown.

Do you want to see Ian Garry fight Colby Covington after UFC 298?

Paulo Costa shuts down Khamzat Chimaev grudge fight after UFC 298: ‘He didn’t beat anybody’

Ahead of his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, former undisputed middleweight champion, Paulo Costa appears…

Ahead of his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, former undisputed middleweight champion, Paulo Costa appears to have shut down the idea of a rescheduled showdown with long-time rival, Khamzat Chimaev in the future, questioning who of note the Chechen has beaten.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since 2022, most recently landing a unanimous decision win over former undisputed divisional champion, Luke Rockhold.

And forced from a slated title-eliminator against the unbeaten, Chimaev at UFC 294 back in October of last year, Costa was forced from the Abu Dhabi, UAE clash – after contracting a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow, resulting in a slew of surgical procedures to address the setback.

Booked to feature in the co-main event of UFC 298 this weekend in Anaheim, Costa takes on former titleholder, Robert Whittaker in another rebooked fight.

Paulo Costa rules out Khamzat Chimaev fight after UFC 298

And staking his claim for a second shot at middleweight gold – currently held by Dricus du Plessis, Costa has shot down the idea of a grudge match with Chimaev in the future, questioning who the Chechen contender has defeated of note.

“Of course, everybody knows I don’t like the guy (Khamzat Chimaev),” Paulo Costa told assembled media during his availability ahead of UFC 298. “But I don’t think too much people take him so serious anymore. He just stopped to fight – he didn’t beat anybody in the middleweight division. He didn’t beat anybody in the top 15 [of the] middleweight division.”

“… I like this beef between countries and cultures, and two guys,” Paulo Costa explained. “But after beating (Robert) Whittaker, bro, I will not want to hear his (Chimaev) name. F*ck him. He need to do something. He needs to beat somebody at the top – at least top ten in the middleweight [division]. And I don’t think he’s capable to (sic) do that.”

Do you think Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev ever settle their differences?

Alexander Volkanovski claims Ilia Topuria fight may ‘Look easy’ at UFC 298, predicts dominant win

Undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has claimed onlookers should not be necessarily surprised if his fight with incoming title…

Undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has claimed onlookers should not be necessarily surprised if his fight with incoming title chaser, Ilia Topuria “looks easy” come the conclusion of their UFC 298 title clash this weekend in Anaheim, California.

Volkanovski, the current undisputed featherweight titleholder, is slated to headline UFC 298 this weekend in California, attempting to lodge another successful defense of his crown in a showdown against the unbeaten, Topuria.

As for Topuria, the Spaniard headlined a UFC Fight Night Jacksonville card last summer against former interim championship challenger, Josh Emmett – landing a dominant decision win over the Arizona native.

And meeting face-to-face with Topuria during yesterday’s picture shoot – in which the challenger was strapped with Volkanovski’s championship belt, the Australian was predicted as losing his title early and in devastating fashion, according to the former.

Alexander Volkanovski eyes “easy” win over Ilia Topuria

However, as far as New South Wales technician, Volkanovski is concerned, fans and viewers should not be surprised if he landed an “easy’ victory over Topuria at UFC 298.

“I’m ready for a young, hungry prospect to come and bring a fight,” Alexander Volkanovski told assembled media during his availability ahead of UFC 298. “But I won’t be surprised – and you shouldn’t be surprised – if I make it look easy. I’m not saying that’s exactly how it is. I’m not cocky like that. I’ve prepared properly, but if he doesn’t land a punch and I rag-doll him and make him look like nothing in there, you shouldn’t be surprised.”

In his most recent outing at the featherweight limit, Volkanovski successfully unified the divisional titles at UFC 290 back in July of last year during International Fight Week, turning in a dominant, eventual ground strikes TKO win over former interim champion, Yair Rodríguez.

Who wins at UFC 298 this weekend: Alexander Volkanovski or Ilia Topuria?

Ian Garry remains decent betting favorite to beat Geoff Neal in UFC 298 grudge fight in Anaheim

Unbeaten welterweight contender, Ian Garry has opened and still remains a distinct betting favorite to beat his incoming rival,…

Unbeaten welterweight contender, Ian Garry has opened and still remains a distinct betting favorite to beat his incoming rival, Geoff Neal in their UFC 298 grudge fight this weekend, with the Dubliner drifting as a bigger favorite closer to the bout.

Garry, the current number ten ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined since August of last year, most recently turning in a one-sided unanimous decision win over the division’s most-winningest fighter, Neil Magny in a judging shutout at UFC 292 in Boston.

As for Neal, the Texan has been sidelined himself since he featured at UFC 285 back in March, suffering an eventual third round standing rear-naked choke submission loss to the undefeated, Shavkat Rakhmonov in the pair’s main card showdown.

Ian Garry remains favorite to beat Geoff Neal at UFC 298

And initially opening as a betting favorite to beat Neal, Ian Garry is currently riding a -218 betting favorite over the former – who is a current +180 betting underdog – with Tipps.gg available to fans who are interested in betting on a host of cards this year, with the site also set to implement separate sections on MMA analytics, as well as their very own predictions ahead of events.

Forced from a slated return to the Octagon at UFC 296 back in December, Portmarnock striker, Garry withdrew from a planned return against Kill Cliff FC training partner, Vicente Luque at the end-of-year card, as he suffered from pneumonia during fight week.

And quickly rebooked amid his battle with illness, the outspoken Garry, who remains steadfast that he will defeat Neal in their rescheduled pairing – makes his comeback at UFC 298 this weekend in Anaheim, California.

Expecting to land a dominant win over the Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Neal, former Team KF trainee, Garry boldly claimed he would likely stop the striker with a body kick – and leave him resembling a dog defecating in the process of finishing him.

“What am I going to finish him (Geoff Neal) with?” Ian Garry said. “I am going to make him quit. He’ll choose when he’s done. I’d like to kick him to the body and have him do that – when the dog is sh*tting.”

“The dog looks at you like – when they’re pooing, for protection,” Ian Garry explained. “That’s what they do, right? [They] look at their owners when they’re pooing because that’s when they’re vulnerable for attack.”

Enjoying a roughshod run throughout the welterweight ranks since his Octagon debut back in 2022, Garry, a former Cage Warriors welterweight titleholder, has so-far enjoyed an impressive promotional-perfect run of six straight fights – notably taking out the likes of Song Kenan and Daniel Rodriguez with knockout victories, to go with his August win over Magny.

Making his debut under the Dana White-led banner back in 2018, the highly-touted Neal has himself turned in numerous high-profile triumphs during his UFC stint, including wins over the likes of Niko Price, Mike Perry, Santiago Ponzinibbio, the aforenoted, Luque, and the surging – expected next title challenger, Belal Muhammad – taking home a unanimous decision win over the Illinois native.

Who wins at UFC 298 this weekend: Geoff Neal or Ian Garry?

Dana White pumps brakes on brash ego of Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC 298: ‘He still has a lot to prove’

Promotional CEO, Dana White has issued a word of warning to incoming featherweight title challenger, Ilia Topuria ahead of…

Promotional CEO, Dana White has issued a word of warning to incoming featherweight title challenger, Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC 298 this weekend, claiming the German-born contender “still has a lot to prove” to fans before his title fight with Alexander Volkanovski.

Topuria, the current number three ranked featherweight contender, returns to the Octagon in hsi first main event slot atop a pay-per-view – taking headlining honors at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California – as he takes on featherweight great, Volkanovski.

In the midst of a promotional-perfect run so far since his 2020 landing in the Octagon, Topuria, who brings with him a massive Spanish following to his premier title tilt at UFC 298, has vowed to stop the Australian early, as well as denying a championship fight to a host of contenders, as well as chasing a super clash with ex-titleholder, Conor McGregor.

Dana White talks Ilia Topuria’s rise

However, reacting to Topuria’s brash persona as of recent times, promotional leader, White claimed the incoming featherweight championship hopeful still has a long way to go and much to prove on is journey with the organization.

“As much of a stud as [Ilia Topuria] is, he’s still got a lot to prove,” White told Kevin Iole during a recent interview. “I don’t know about that [a call out to Conor McGregor]. I think he’s got a lot to – listen, when you’re undefeated, you’ve never tasted defeat, and you’ve been on the rise that this guy is on, that’s the way you should be thinking and that’s what your mentality should be. But we’ll see how it plays out on Saturday night.” (H/T MMA Mania)

In his most recent Octagon appearance, Topuria landed a dominant unanimous decision win over former interim featherweight title challenger, Josh Emmett in the main event of a UFC Fight Night Jacksonville card last summer.

Can Ilia Topuria land featherweight gold at UFC 298?