IRVINE, Calif. – Ian Machado Garry holds no remorse for the infamous T-shirt he created featuring Geoff Neal’s mugshot.
While some criticized Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) for his behavior, the Irishman asserts that he stayed within the acceptable boundaries of trash talk and feels no remorse for his actions.
Garry and Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC), who are set to face each other this Saturday at UFC 298, were originally scheduled to fight in August at UFC 292. However, Neal withdrew from the bout a few weeks prior, and Garry went on to defeat late replacement Neil Magny.
Several weeks before the cancellation, Garry shared a photo of himself wearing a T-shirt featuring Neal’s mugshot from a 2021 DUI arrest.
“The T-shirt was a hilarious prank, and it was effective,” Garry stated during Wednesday’s UFC 298 media day. “He didn’t show up, and I believe he was upset about that first fight and didn’t show up because of the T-shirt.
“Look, I have no regrets about creating that T-shirt. It was comical. The truth is that nobody knew who Geoff was. Nobody knew the fight was scheduled until I made the T-shirt, and then everyone started talking about it. We’re in the fight business, and our goal is to sell fights and entertain. After that point, everyone was aware of it. Before that, no one had a clue.”
Garry, who posted the aforementioned T-shirt image on his Instagram account, enters this weekend’s event brimming with confidence. He firmly believes he will outperform Neal and move closer to achieving his aspiration of becoming the UFC welterweight champion.
“I genuinely believe that Geoff is an exceptional fighter,” Garry expressed. “He’s resilient, he’s durable, and he has been competing at the highest level for quite some time, facing the best fighters in the world. However, I don’t think anyone can match my speed, technical prowess, or the depth of my skill set.
“For me, it’s just a matter of time until he slips up. I anticipate Geoff to be resilient and last the full 15 minutes, unless I execute my game plan flawlessly and force him to make that mistake.”
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com