Outside of UFC 296, Ian Garry is going through a turbulent time and will need to go through the biggest trial by fire of his career

Ian Gary is a promise for the welterweight division. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @iangarry

In the early hours of this Thursday (14), the MMA world woke up to the sad news of the cancellation of the duel between Ian Garry and Vicente Luque, which would have taken place at UFC 296. According to Ultimate President Dana White, the Irishman contracted the flu, which turned into pneumonia and prevented the welterweight prospect (up to 77,1kg) from performing on the card scheduled for next Saturday (16). However, the young promise can take advantage of the break to overcome the 'emotional test' that she has been dealing with in recent months.

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Since arriving in Ultimate, in 2021, Ian Gary became one more person to deal with the nickname 'New Conor McGregor'. However, despite many other fighters earning the same nickname, the welterweight promise has always admitted to being a fan of the former double champion since he was a child and looking up to the 'Notório' to follow the path of his career. The fact that he was also born in Ireland, like McGregor, counts in the prospect's favor.

However, in recent weeks, Garry has seen his name highlighted on practically every website and program that talks about MMA. His relationship with Brazilian Layla Machado became widely exposed and took over the news, given that she is 40 years old (14 years older than the Irishman) and has already written books teaching other women how to become athletes' wives and girlfriends.

The first to attack Garry's relationship was the middleweight champion (under 83,9kg) Sean Strickland, who accused him of being dominated and bossed around by his wife. Dillon Danis, one of his best friends Conor McGregor, also took the opportunity to needle the Irish fighter and his partner. Even before becoming champion and starting to take advantage of the bonuses, Ian already felt the burden of trying to be Conor McGregor.

Controversies in gyms

Vincent Luque e Ian Machado Garry they were training partners. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

During much of his career in Ultimate, Ian trained at the renowned Kill Cliff gym, based in Florida, United States and where names like Gilbert Durinho, Kamaru Usman, Vincent Luque and others. After confirming the duel with Luque, Garry was forced to complete his training camp for the UFC 296 at another academy, as the Brazilian is 'older' on the team and won the right to hold his training camp at home.

However, as soon as he arrived in São Paulo to prepare at the Chute Boxe academy, the Charles of the Bronx and Diego Lima, Garry started to provoke Vincent Luque in an exaggerated way, including in photos of personal moments on the Brazilian's Instagram. The attitude generated outrage from Vicente and other Kill Cliff teammates, who decided that they did not want the Irishman to return to training in Florida.

Recently, Garry was also asked to withdraw from another major academy: 'Team Renegade', a team based in England and home to the current welterweight champion. Leon edwards. The current owner of the belt claimed that the decision was made in conjunction with other members of the team, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the way in which Garry exposes and films his training for social media, something that goes beyond the norm. modus operandi team's. New door closed for the Irish.

UFC 296

Ian Gary celebrates victory in the UFC (Photo: Instagram/@ufc)

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At the beginning of the fight week of the UFC 296, Ian Gary has already arrived in Las Vegas (USA) feeling a 'threat' from someone who also specializes in creating trouble outside the octagon: challenger for the welterweight belt Colby covington also attacked the relationship of Ian Gary and his wife and criticized the Irishman for blocking the comments on his Instagram and insinuated that he was not prepared to deal with criticism from haters.

In the early hours of Wednesday (13), news began to circulate behind the scenes that Ian Gary would not participate in the 'media day', however, the reason was not given and the organization confirmed the rumors a few hours later. What appeared to be a minor or unimportant problem turned into a canceled fight shortly after, after Dana White announced that Garry had contracted the flu, which turned into pneumonia and made it impossible for him to step into the octagon and face Vincent Luque.

I. Garry in a press conference after the UFC 292 (Photo: Instagram/@ufc)

On the surface, Garry's pneumonia does not appear to be serious. A few days of rest with some medication should make the Irishman 100% soon. However, Ian will need to take advantage of these days to deal with the biggest emotional test of his career. It can't be easy to want to become champion of the biggest MMA organization in the world, at the same time as you are bombarded by provocations, criticisms and guesses about your relationship, your personal life and the way you view and lead your career.

Any high-level athlete knows that talent alone is not enough. You can't reach the top of the sport without good mental preparation, without knowing how to deal with the good moments and, especially, the bad moments. It's time to Ian Gary prove what it's made of. If the biggest fight of his career was canceled inside the octagon, outside of it the next few days will require a battle just as intense and one that the Irishman cannot even think about losing, if he really wants to come close to the success he has achieved. Conor McGregor reached.

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