Ian Machado Garry has heard the boos, seen the criticism, and dealt with plenty of backlash from MMA fans. But none of it appears to matter to him.
Garry challenges UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 330 on Saturday, with the biggest prize of his career on the line. Ahead of the fight, the Irishman was asked whether the lack of fan support bothers him.
His answer was blunt.
I couldn’t care less,” Garry told the Spinning Backfist MMA Show. “Ahead of my fight with Belal Muhammad in Qatar, I walked out to boos. Go back and listen to the audio 30 seconds into the fight. ‘Let’s go, Garry! Let’s go!’ This sport is a pantomime.
Garry has attracted criticism throughout his rise, particularly over his outspoken interviews and recent comments about women. Makhachev has also taken aim at the challenger, previously telling him to stop doing interviews because he “looks very bad.”
None of that has changed Garry’s priorities.
What I care about is becoming the champion of the world and proving that I was right,” Garry said. “That’s the dream I had as a 16-year-old growing up in Dublin, Ireland. I will fulfill that dream.
For Garry, the motivation goes beyond proving his critics wrong. His family will be watching when he attempts to capture his first UFC championship.
My little boy is going to be front row when I win that belt,” Garry said. “I want to see his smile. I want to see him and my wife. I want to give him the biggest cuddle I possibly can, and say, ‘Daddy did it!’ That’s all that matters to me.
Garry enters UFC 330 as the underdog after winning his last fight against former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
