Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan has seen thousands of fighters come and go from the promotion over the years. So when he identifies someone as a unique entity, it should mean a lot.
That’s how Rogan feels about undefeated rising star Ian Machado Garry, who is quickly gaining traction as a welterweight on the rise after starting his octagon tenure with five consecutive wins.
Garry (12-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) was criticized by many early in his UFC tenure as an attempted copycat of fellow Irishman Conor McGregor. His work inside the cage has started to generation attention of his own, though, especially after Garry scored a first-round TKO of Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ABC 4 this month.
Rogan wasn’t on commentary for Garry’s triumphant effort against Rodriguez, but he did make sure to watch it. And from everything he’s seen out of Garry thus far, he thinks the promotion has something special on its hands.
“(He’s) undefeated, so confident and so intelligent,” Rogan said on a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast with guest Bas Rutten. “Beating Daniel Rodriguez like that in the last fight, and being the first guy to stop Rodriguez (with strikes) – that’s a big deal. He’s got it. Whatever ‘it’ is, he’s got it. He’s on his way up.”
Garry also was praised by UFC president Dana White in the aftermath of his most recent performance. It’s hard to deny the 25-year-old has plenty of potential, and Garry told MMA Junkie in a recent interview he intends to maximize his position and continue to make waves.
“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.”
