Help to Save Dana White Brings Ian Garry His Rewards as Sean Brady Gets Brutal Reality Check Before UFC 315

In the brutal meritocracy of the UFC welterweight division, words are only meaningful when accompanied by action. Ian Machado Garry, still stinging from his loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, had expressed his desire for a title opportunity with only one win over a lower-ranked opponent. The timing and tone of his claim received quick criticism from Sean Brady, who took to social media to mock Garry’s goals. Brady, fresh off a victory over former champion Leon Edwards, cited Garry’s record and defeat, rejecting his title hopes as ludicrous and exposing the frailty of his story. However, following his victory over Carlos Prates, ‘The Future’ responded with an answer and a big claim. So what did he say?

Stepping up on short notice in Kansas City, Machado risked his reputation against the rising Carlos Prates, who had four straight UFC knockouts. Ian Garry dominated much of the bout, surviving a risky late blitz to gain a unanimous decision victory. It wasn’t perfect, but it was gritty—and, most crucially, it proved Garry’s ability to fight under pressure when his reputation was at stake. Garry didn’t mince words following his well-deserved victory. In an interview with the UFC, he addressed Brady’s previous criticisms, claiming himself as a company man prepared to take chances that others would not, making him the top-most help for none other than Dana White.

“Here’s the truth: I help the UFC,” Garry stated. “When you take big risks, you get big rewards. Take a backseat, Sean; you got knocked out by Belal Muhammad.” It was a stark reminder that, while Brady might have won wars with words, Garry was winning where it really mattered: inside the Octagon, even if it required stepping up at the last minute. And that surely is paying him back as he announced that he is the backup fighter for UFC 315. “In two weeks time, I’m flying to Canada. I’m the official backup for the world title fight and I’m next in line for that world title,” he said in the post-fight interview.

‘The Future’ was booed during his walkout, but the end result spoke louder than the crowd. In a division where promises and excuses are quickly forgotten, Garry’s willingness to take risks maintained his name in the title conversation. Sean Brady may have briefly dominated the story with his mockery, but in the aftermath of UFC Kansas, Ian Machado Garry had the final word — and, more importantly, the next step forward. In fact, such was his fight performance that it earned a two-word tweet from fellow Irishman Conor McGregor.

Ian Garry finds space in Conor McGregor’s deleted tweet

Few endorsements could have been more meaningful for a fighter looking to reinvent his future than a wink from Conor McGregor, even if it only existed online for a short time. Riding the momentum of his hard-fought triumph, Ian Machado Garry achieved not just the next step in his career but also a sliver of recognition from the sport’s most iconic Irish figure. It was neither a comprehensive breakdown nor a full-throated endorsement. It was a simple two-word tweet: “Great fight,” with the Irish and Brazilian flags and a heart emoji. However, in a sport obsessed with validation and perception, even a short approval from ‘The Notorious’ had an impact beyond the 15 minutes Garry had just fought for.

The fact that McGregor then deleted the post added to the intrigue, following a pattern set by the former double champion in recent years: quick flashes of commentary, only to retreat and let the speculation do the talking. Ian Garry, however, had already received the message. Conor McGregor staying up till the early hours in Ireland to watch him headline made its own statement, regardless of whether the tweet survived a deletion or not. It speaks to a bigger point: Garry, despite his setbacks and the noise surrounding his name, is slowly on the path to becoming the most legendary character in Irish MMA. In a division stacked with rising contenders and harsh judgments, that space matters.

While critics were debating Ian Garry’s worth, the UFC was making its views clear. Dana White’s admission that ‘The Future’ will be the official backup for UFC 315’s welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena reinforced his importance beyond social media talk. Garry’s decision to fly to Montreal and weigh in at championship weight shows a fighter who is not satisfied with story victories alone. He’s pursuing real ones, with gold on the line — and regardless of whether McGregor voices it again, the next chapter of Ian Machado Garry’s story has already begun. What do you think? Will he get to fight in Canada? Let us know in the comments.

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