Ian Machado Garry thinks this past weekend’s finish of Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ABC 4 marked a turning point in public opinion.
Garry (12-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) needed less than one round to become the first in MMA history to stop Rodriguez (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) with strikes, landing a big head kick that spelled the beginning of the end in the welterweight bout, which took place at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The result kept the Irishman’s undefeated record in tact, and marked the defining performance of his career thus far. Due to Garry’s outspoken and brash demeanor, there’s a segment of fans rooting for his demise. He’s aware, and is thrilled to hush the naysays for the time being.
If anybody is going to be sitting here and criticizing me now, then they’re just a hater,” Garry told MMA Junkie on Monday. “Because there is absolutely nothing that anyone could say to make any sense right now about speaking negatively. I just went in and knocked out a guy who has never been knocked out. I’ve done it with absolute ease. Not only did I did it with absolute ease, I did it with the guy who was ranked No. 15 in the world. All you can do it sit and say, ‘Wow, this kid is impressive.’ That’s it. Anything else, you’re just a hater.”
Garry caught the praise of several high-impact players in the aftermath of his Performance of the Night winning effort. His mentor and countryman Conor McGregor praised him on social media, and UFC president Dana White was bullish on the 25-year-old, as well.
“I am what I say I am,” Garry said. “I know what I’m capable of and it’s time that the organization and the people who are doubting me see it, too. … Dana should be excited for my potential, because it’s another superstar in the making.”
Immediately following his win, Garry called out Neil Magny for his next fight. Magny (27-10 MMA, 20-9 UFC) has the most wins in UFC welterweight history and has fought almost all the biggest names in the division during his more than 10-year stint with the company.
Magny is current scheduled to fight Phil Rowe at UFC Fight Night on June 24, but Garry wants him after that no matter what. He knows beating Magny will be the statement to the rest of the ranked fighters that he’s looking for.
“He can separate the contenders from the pretenders,” Garry said. “That is absolutely perfect. That point is absolutely why. We have seen catch people that are on the rise, then we’ve seen him put up against someone like Shavkat, and Shavkat go out there and show, ‘You’re not on my level, get out of my way.’ Magny’s been either in or just below the top 10 since I was a f*cking amateur fighting in Ireland on a card nobody had ever hurt of, and he’s fighting some of the biggest names the sport has ever f*cking seen.
“For me to go in there and absolutely run through him in any way I want to, whether it’s grappling, wrestling or striking – or all combined – no matter where I goes I believe I will out work him.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.
