Ian Machado Garry finds himself in a short preparation period for the UFC once more, this time for a potential fight that isn`t guaranteed.
Having recently stepped in on short notice (a month) to deliver knockout specialist Carlos Prates his initial UFC loss, Garry is now set to be the backup fighter for the welterweight championship bout at UFC 315 on May 10, featuring Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.
With only two weeks separating his last fight and the backup date, the Chute Boxe representative`s head coach, Diego Lima, stated they are aiming to be fully ready to compete in Canada if the situation requires it.
“We must train like we`re going to war, as though the fight is definitely happening,” Lima emphasized the need for intense preparation. He highlighted the unpredictability of backup roles, citing a past situation: “The moment you become the backup, that fight could easily not happen. When Makhachev was scheduled to face Tsarukyan, we offered Charles Oliveira as a backup, but the UFC insisted he rest after his previous fight, saying he deserved a vacation and should attend as a guest. Yet, on the weigh-in day Friday, the fight was cancelled. It shows that even when you least expect it, anything is possible.”
Garry previously went five rounds with Shavkat Rakhmonov in December, nearly securing a submission against the undefeated fighter towards the end. He also completed 25 minutes against Prates. Although Garry was hurt late in the fifth round against Prates, his performance in the earlier rounds secured him the decision win.
Lima commented on the toll of such fights: “Emerging from a 25-minute battle without any damage is impossible.” He expressed relief that “Thankfully, neither sustained serious injuries.” The coach outlined the immediate plan: “The priority now is injury recovery, rest, and then gradually returning to light training in about four or five days. This involves some movement and light sparring.” He acknowledged the training challenge: “It`s tough because we need to prepare for everything, and the potential opponents have entirely different styles. Facing Belal is distinct from facing Della Maddalena. We must focus on conditioning to be prepared for either possibility, should the fight proceed.” He added, “While I don`t anticipate this specific fight falling through, we must approach it with the readiness for it to be called off.”
Lima, who has prior experience training Prates, praised Garry`s execution of the game plan at UFC Kansas City. He noted that apart from Prates` strong takedown defense and the moment in the final minute when Prates hurt the Irish fighter, Garry effectively controlled the bout.
According to Lima, “Ian consistently stays in good shape and is always training, which keeps him ready for any chance.” He reflected on fighter aspirations: “Every fighter dreams of reaching the UFC, and once there, the dream is to win the championship.” He characterized Garry: “Ian is remarkably young yet possesses significant experience. His fight before last resulted in a loss, but he emerged from it stronger. He`s demonstrating his capabilities and merits this opportunity.”
Lima reiterated Garry`s worthiness: “Ian truly deserves this.” He justified this by stating, “Not only for accepting another fight on limited notice, but for performing effectively inside the cage. He is a truly well-rounded fighter. He nearly submitted Rakhmonov in their fight, and against Carlos, he put on an excellent performance, controlling nearly every round except the fifth. He is consistently proving he possesses the necessary skills and deserves these chances. On two occasions when the UFC needed someone, he stepped up.”
