Ian Garry Bio
Ian David Machado Garry is an Irish professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on 17 November 1997 in Portmarnock, County Dublin, Ireland, Garry began training in boxing at the age of 10 and later expanded his skill set with judo, earning a black belt at 18. He gained international attention by capturing the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship before signing with the UFC in 2021. Standing 191 cm tall with a 188 cm reach, Garry is widely recognized for his precise striking and tactical approach inside the cage. As of late November 2025, he holds the number two position in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Early Life and Background
Ian David Machado Garry grew up in Portmarnock, a coastal town in County Dublin, Ireland. He began boxing training at 10 years old, building the foundational striking skills that would later define his mixed martial arts style. As a teenager, Garry was inspired by Conor McGregor’s rise in global MMA and decided to broaden his martial arts background by adding judo to his training regimen. His dedication to judo was exceptional, and he achieved the rank of black belt by the time he was 18 years old.
After completing secondary school, Garry briefly attended Dublin Institute of Technology, where he studied for only a couple of months before choosing to leave in order to devote himself fully to combat sports. His first amateur mixed martial arts bout came shortly after he turned 19, and he finished his amateur career with a 6–1 record, including six finishes. Garry turned professional at the age of 21, transitioning quickly from the amateur ranks to a contracted professional career in mixed martial arts.
Path to MMA
Garry’s path to professional mixed martial arts was marked by rapid development in both striking and grappling. He joined Team KF Martial Arts in 2017, where he refined his skills and built the record that would later earn him a shot at a major promotion. His amateur performances demonstrated a strong finishing instinct, and his transition to the professional ranks in February 2019 signaled the start of a new chapter in his career.
He made his professional debut at Cage Warriors 101, defeating James Sheehan by unanimous decision and earning the Fight of the Night award along with a promotional contract. Following five consecutive Cage Warriors victories, including a win over UFC veteran Rostem Akman, Garry faced Jack Grant at Cage Warriors 125 for the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship. He won the title by unanimous decision, becoming one of the most talked-about prospects signed by the UFC later that year.
Ian Garry Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Garry made his amateur mixed martial arts debut in November 2017 and compiled a 6–1 amateur record with six finishes and a single decision loss over the next year. This amateur run established him as a top-tier regional prospect in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Shortly after turning professional in February 2019, he moved through the Cage Warriors ranks with a string of finishes and decisions that caught the attention of major promotions.
During his early development years, Garry trained with Team KF Martial Arts from 2017 to 2021, where his striking-based skill set and growing grappling depth were sharpened. By the end of his Cage Warriors run, he had claimed the Welterweight Championship and earned a reputation as a polished, confident fighter ready for the UFC stage.
Cage Warriors Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Garry’s Cage Warriors tenure was the platform that launched his UFC career. After debuting professionally in February 2019, he strung together five straight wins inside the promotion, each performance building his case as a future UFC signing. His victory over two-fight UFC veteran Rostem Akman at Cage Warriors 121, finished in under eight minutes, positioned him for a title opportunity.
That title shot came at Cage Warriors 125, where Garry defeated Jack Grant by unanimous decision to capture the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship. The title win served as his defining moment in the European circuit and set the stage for his July 2021 announcement that he had signed a contract with the UFC.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Era (2021–Present)
Garry made his UFC debut on 6 November 2021 at UFC 268, scoring a first-round knockout of Jordan Williams and immediately announcing himself as a rising contender in the welterweight division. He followed that debut with a series of strong performances, including a unanimous decision win over Darian Weeks at UFC 273 and a victory over Gabriel Green at UFC 276. By early 2023, Garry was firmly established as a prospect to watch, and his third-round technical knockout of Song Kenan at UFC 285 added a notable finish to his UFC resume.
His bout with Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ABC 4 in May 2023 produced a first-round TKO win and a Performance of the Night award, while his replacement opponent victory over Neil Magny at UFC 292 further extended his unbeaten UFC record. After a planned bout with Vicente Luque at UFC 296 was scrapped due to Garry’s withdrawal with pneumonia, he returned at UFC 298 in February 2024, defeating Geoff Neal by split decision in a competitive fight. In June 2024, he added a unanimous decision win over Michael Page at UFC 303, cementing his status as a top welterweight contender.
On 7 December 2024, Garry faced Shavkat Rakhmonov in a five-round title eliminator at UFC 310, where he suffered his first professional loss by unanimous decision. He rebounded in April 2025 with a unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC on ESPN 66. Most recently, Garry defeated former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 265 on 22 November 2025, reinforcing his number two ranking in the division.
Chute Boxe Diego Lima Era (2023–Present)
In 2023, Garry made the move to Chute Boxe Diego Lima, ending his time with Kill Cliff FC. The Brazilian-based team has a storied history of producing aggressive, well-rounded strikers, and the transition aligned with Garry’s desire to expand his ground game and finishing toolkit. Under the Chute Boxe banner, he has continued to evolve as a fighter, blending his Irish boxing foundation with the South American striking pedigree of his new camp.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garry is best known for his sharp, technical boxing, distance management, and ability to dictate the pace of a fight. His judo black belt provides a strong defensive grappling base, allowing him to remain composed against high-level wrestlers and grapplers. Inside the UFC, he has shown a willingness to mix striking with opportunistic ground control, a balance that has made him a difficult matchup across the welterweight division.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments in Garry’s career include his first-round UFC debut knockout of Jordan Williams at UFC 268, his third-round technical knockout of Song Kenan at UFC 285, and his first-round TKO of Daniel Rodriguez that earned a Performance of the Night bonus. His November 2025 decision win over former champion Belal Muhammad stands as one of the most significant victories of his career and a clear marker of his contender status.
Ian Garry Career Wins
Ian David Machado Garry has compiled an 18–1 professional mixed martial arts record, with seven wins by knockout, one by submission, and one by decision among his finishes, alongside a series of high-profile UFC victories. His wins span the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship and a steadily growing UFC resume against ranked opposition.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Garry has recorded multiple wins by knockout and decision against a mix of debuting opponents and established veterans. His first UFC win came by first-round knockout at UFC 268 in November 2021, and he has since added decision wins over Darian Weeks, Gabriel Green, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, Michael Page, Carlos Prates, and Belal Muhammad. His most recent UFC victory over former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 265 on 22 November 2025 reaffirmed his place among the elite of the welterweight division.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Garry captured the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship with a unanimous decision win over Jack Grant at Cage Warriors 125. He also earned the Fight of the Night award in his professional debut at Cage Warriors 101, a fast start that helped establish his profile in European MMA before his promotion to the UFC.
Ian Garry Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ian David Machado Garry’s parents and immediate family background is limited. He has spoken openly about his decision to adopt the surname Machado Garry, integrating his wife’s maiden name into his own to create a unified family identity for his children.
Personal Life
Ian David Machado Garry married television presenter Layla Anna-Lee in Las Vegas on 26 February 2022. In April 2022, the couple announced they were expecting their first child together, and their son was born in October 2022. Garry is also a stepfather to Layla Anna-Lee’s son from a previous relationship. As of 2024, Garry follows a vegan diet, has spent time living and training in Brazil, and is able to speak Portuguese.
2025 Season Performance
Ian David Machado Garry entered 2025 coming off the first loss of his professional career, a unanimous decision defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov in the UFC 310 welterweight title eliminator in December 2024. The setback temporarily interrupted his ascent through the division, but his response in 2025 has restored his momentum and reaffirmed his contender status.
He returned to the win column on 26 April 2025, taking a unanimous decision over Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC on ESPN 66 in a high-profile welterweight matchup. The victory over Prates, a fellow striker with knockout power, was widely viewed as a statement performance and helped Garry climb back into the top tier of the welterweight rankings.
Garry capped his 2025 campaign on 22 November 2025 at UFC Fight Night 265, where he defeated former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision. The win over Muhammad elevated his standing and, as of late November 2025, places him at number two in the UFC welterweight rankings, putting him firmly in line for a future title opportunity.