Ian Machado Garry is once again navigating a tight turnaround in the UFC, this time in a backup capacity for a potential fight that may not even happen.
Having recently stepped up on relatively short notice (one month) to secure a decision victory over knockout artist Carlos Prates – handing him his first octagon loss – Garry is now slated to serve as the alternate fighter for the UFC 315 welterweight title bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena on May 10th.
The Chute Boxe representative has just two weeks between his last fight and the UFC 315 event. His head coach, Diego Lima, conveyed to MMA Fighting that despite the compressed timeline, they are fully focused on being prepared to step into the cage in Canada if the situation arises.
“We have to train for a war, to train as if we’re fighting,” Lima stated regarding their approach. He highlighted the unpredictable nature of being a backup, recalling an instance where Charles Oliveira was advised by the UFC to rest after a fight instead of being a backup, only for the main event he could have replaced to fall apart just before weigh-ins. “Anything can happen,” Lima emphasized, underscoring the need for readiness.
Garry’s recent activity includes a five-round battle with Shavkat Rakhmonov in December, where he nearly submitted the undefeated contender, followed by the full 25 minutes against Prates. Although Garry was hurt in the fifth round of the Prates fight, his performance in the earlier rounds was sufficient to earn him the decision win.
Lima acknowledged the physical toll of such extended bouts. “You can’t come out unscathed after a 25-minute war,” he said. He expressed relief that both fighters avoided severe injuries and prioritized immediate recovery and rest before returning to light training within a few days. The coach noted the difficulty of preparing for two potential opponents with vastly different styles, Muhammad and Della Maddalena, on short notice, requiring conditioning specifically tailored for both possibilities, even if he doesn`t anticipate the main fight being canceled.
Lima, who has a history of training Prates, commended Garry’s successful execution of the game plan in their recent clash. He noted that apart from a moment in the final round when Prates rocked Garry and Prates’ effective takedown defense, Garry was largely in control throughout the contest.
“Ian always stays light, he’s always training, so he’s ready for any opportunity,” Lima added. He believes Garry, despite his youth, is already highly experienced and that even his previous loss contributed to his growth. Lima sees Garry consistently demonstrating his capabilities and deserving of the opportunities presented to him.
Reiterating his point, Lima stated, “Ian deserves it,” citing not only his willingness to take fights on short notice but also his consistent performance inside the octagon. He described Garry as a “complete fighter,” pointing to his near-submission of Rakhmonov and his dominant showing against Prates, barring the final round. Lima concluded that Garry repeatedly proves his worth and deservingness, answering the call whenever the UFC has needed him.
