Conor McGregor's glowing endorsement of Ian Garry ahead of UFC comeback fight

Irish Daily Star

27-04-2025

Conor McGregor predicted a "bright future" in the
UFC
for compatriot
Ian Machado Garry
ahead of the Irish welterweight's comeback against Carlos Prates on Saturday.
Garry, who
made a serious accusation about one of his opponents
last year, headlined UFC Fight Night over in Kansas City,
Missouri
, against a fighter who was yet to experience defeat since joining the UFC roster. Nonetheless, he triumphed by unanimous decision, having controlled the majority of the bout despite the Brazilian's late blitz.
It was a welcome victory for the No. 7 ranked Garry,
once described as "sensational" by Joe Rogan
, who didn't manage to climb the welterweight ladder after a decision loss to No. 2-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7. Post-bout, the 27-year-old stood firm on his belief that he should've emerged victorious, and
McGregor
stepped up to bolster his spirits.
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"Very good fight. Well done Ian, future is bright," the former Featherweight and Lightweight Champion said in the aftermath of Garry's first setback in the UFC octagon more than four months ago. Despite the compliments for his efforts, however, it still didn't yield Garry victory.
Nevertheless, the Irish mixed martial artist maintained his grace, even though he felt the judges had done him dirty. "I do not feel like I lost. My hand may have been raised tonight, but I came out and fought a giant," Garry expressed post-fight at UFC 310. "I fought the boogeyman of the division, on three weeks' notice, and I saved this card."
Detailing how he withstood the fiercest competitor in the welterweight class, he added: "Against the scariest man in the division, and I almost stopped everything he did. There was no point where it looked like he was going to finish the fight, I got him in two submissions, I took his back and I had fun."
Garry suffered a decision loss to No. 2-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7
Garry expressed his pride in his performance against Rakhmonov, demonstrating his ability to hang with the division's top contenders. "I showed that I can hang with the single best in the division and I can absolutely be a champion, that I can do it in five rounds and there are no holes in my game. He won by opinion and that's okay, I can live with that and I am very happy with my performance," he said.
The praise he received from McGregor,
a fighter he deeply admires
, was a huge boost for Garry.
His admiration for the 36-year-old
goes beyond mere fanhood, having been heavily influenced by the Irishman's career when he first started out in MMA. In a chat with
The MMA Hour
, Garry recalled his surreal experience of training and befriending McGregor in
Dublin
.
"It was one of the most surreal experiences of my life," he shared. "Being a fan and being emotionally invested in everything that man did and then getting to have the ability to stand, train with the guy, talk to the guy, go and have dinner with the guy afterward."
Garry believes that his bond with McGregor will play a key role in his fight career, particularly as he strives for the UFC Welterweight title. The young fighter highlighted that their friendship has given him someone to look up to and learn from, someone with immense experience in the sport.
Garry spoke of his adoration for McGregor and the bond they share
The most valuable takeaway for Garry has been forming a deep and meaningful friendship with a mentor like McGregor. "The biggest takeaway from meeting Conor is the fact that I have a friendship now that I believe is very powerful and very special in someone who I can look up to and learn from," he emphasized. "Someone who has done it all in the sport."
Garry treasures the time he spent with McGregor, stating that they hit it off immediately, meeting three times, and forging a close connection that felt incredibly strong. "We met up three times and I feel like he's my best mate now. I've never met someone who's so like me in my life. Honestly, it's nuts!" he exclaimed.
Now that Garry has established a profound connection with McGregor, he's set to draw from this valuable experience as he continues to push the boundaries of his fighting career. "Someone who's had all the highs, all the lows. All the biggest things in the sport all have his name attached to it and he's wanted to change the game more than anybody. To be able to have that friendship, it's so powerful, it's so special and I'm so grateful."