Ian Machado Garry most recently opined that throughout his career he’s faced a lot of pressure to match the level of stardom achieved by his fellow Irishman and former UFC double champion Conor McGregor, who has been the face of MMA and the UFC’s biggest draw.
Garry is set to challenge two-division champion, the current welterweight titleholder and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev, next month in the main event of UFC 330.
Most recently, during a sit-down with High Performance, “The Future” compared McGregor’s 2015 featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo to his upcoming 170-pound title fight with Islam Makhachev. He also added how throughout his career, everyone has expected him to become the next superstar from Dublin, Ireland, and “live up to the hype” that McGregor set. He said:
“I’ve had a lot of pressure from the outside world, from the fans and the sport itself, to be this star, to live up to the hype that Conor McGregor set being from Dublin, Ireland.”
McGregor dethroned Aldo in just 13 seconds, and now Garry, who’s going to face the P4P king on August 15, also has similar plans. The 28-year-old added:
“When Conor fought for his first UFC title, he fought the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, who hadn’t been beaten in a decade, and Conor knocked him out in 13 seconds. I cannot wait to step into the octagon against Islam Makhachev and beat him because there will be no doubt that I have done it again against the best.
Ian Machado Garry is confident that once he dethrones Makhachev, he will officially become the number one fighter in the world. McGregor scored a quick knockout in 2015 against Aldo, but “The Future” plans to dominate Makhachev over three rounds at UFC 330 before securing a fourth-round finish, leaving no room for debate that he is the better fighter.
Conor McGregor has a message for Ian Machado Garry before UFC 330 Islam Makhachev title bout
Earlier this month, during the UFC 329 post-fight presser, Conor McGregor sent a message to “The Future” before Garry’s title fight against Islam Makhachev. McGregor said:
“The Machado fella, I wish him well. I hope we do it. Go for Ireland.”
Check out Conor McGregor’s comments about Ian Machado Garry below:
McGregor was even game to fight his fellow Irishman for the ‘triple crown,’ if the latter dethrones Makhachev next month. However, the 38-year-old’s comeback bout against Max Holloway did not go as expected, as he was injured in the opening minute and lost by TKO (due to injury). He is expected to stay on the sidelines for 9-12 months, and if he returns to the octagon once more, as he has promised his fans, “The Notorious” would likely run it back with Holloway or face Michael Chandler.
