Ian Machado Garry doesn’t shy away from a bit of schadenfreude, especially when it involves Sean Strickland. The undefeated Irishman has been engaged in a verbal sparring match with the now-former middleweight champion for several months.
Strickland continued to take shots at Garry in his pre-fight comments to the media before UFC 297 in Toronto last Saturday.
However, after witnessing the highlights of Du Plessis’ five-round decision win to secure the middleweight title, Garry made it clear that he wasn’t impressed by the performance of either fighter.
In a video posted on social media on Sunday, Garry shared his thoughts, saying, “I’m watching the highlights of the Sean Strickland and Du Plessis fight. I hope Sean gets sparked unconscious.
There is no way I ever would have bet against Du Plessis losing this fight considering he mauled Robert Whittaker — and Sean Strickland isn’t half the fighter Robert Whittaker is.”
As the fight unfolded, Garry’s disappointment grew. “The f*cking state of this,” he expressed. “Zero technique. Slugging it out. Oh my God. I feel like I’m watching two amateurs fight. Oh my God. If I ever have a fight like that, please tell me to retire.”
Garry concluded the video by stating that his aspiration to face Strickland in the next 12 months “is now even more available.” However, before that happens, Garry has his immediate focus on his upcoming bout against Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in Anaheim, California, on February 17.