Ian Machado Garry has addressed the extensive criticism he has faced in recent months, particularly from the UFC’s middleweight champion. Garry, a former Cage Warriors champion, has been the subject of numerous baseless rumors about his personal life, spread by Strickland and various trolls within the MMA community who thrive on generating YouTube views.
Strickland, in particular, has been vocal about Garry’s personal life, including mentioning his family. During an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Garry expressed his thoughts on Strickland’s comments, especially after Strickland himself had objected to remarks made by Dricus du Plessis about his own personal life outside the cage.
Garry stated, “I don’t personally care about what happened in his childhood or his past that has shaped him into who he is now. I don’t care about his history. It’s not fair to attack and project your pain onto other people and their families just because you can’t handle it properly.”
He further emphasized that the UFC provides mental health treatment plans and resources for athletes to address their mental well-being. Garry advised Strickland to seek help and deal with his issues in a healthy manner rather than attacking other people’s loved ones due to his own childhood trauma.
Garry expressed his sympathy for Strickland but also made it clear that he does not condone speaking about anyone in such a manner. He believes that Strickland should focus on resolving his own problems before criticizing others.
Garry discussed the topic and disclosed his plans for the next bouts. He has stated that he would like to fight Colby Covington this summer and is scheduled to face Geoff Neal next month. Though Garry doesn’t think Strickland will be the champion by then, he does show interest in fighting him again in the future. Garry views Strickland as a possible opponent and believes he has a chance to surpass him by moving up to the middleweight class.
Speaking out against the vitriol he has received, Garry has urged the MMA community to treat one other with greater respect. He wants to maintain his attention on his next battles and not lose sight of future chances to take on Strickland.
