Credit: Michelle Farsi/Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland reignited his bad blood with Ian Machado Garry ahead of UFC 330 this Saturday.

Ian Machado Garry is hours away from the biggest fight of his career against UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev and Garry headline an intriguing card in Philadelphia, featuring a matchup between the pound-for-pound king and a rising star.

Despite his accomplishments inside the Octagon, Garry has become one of the most polarizing figures outside of it in UFC fan circles. Some of his recent media interviews have ruffled some feathers, particularly after his comments about women in leadership roles.

Garry's personality hasn't been well received by some of his fighting colleagues, including Makhachev and UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. At the UFC 330 pre-fight press conference, Makhachev asserted that ‘nobody likes' Garry in the organization.

Strickland has traded barbs with Garry for years, calling the Irish star ‘fake' and shutting down a fight callout. Ahead of UFC 330, Strickland didn't hold back on Garry.

Sean Strickland reignites Ian Machado Garry feud ahead of UFC 330

In a recent tweet, Strickland taunted Garry's response to recent fan criticism ahead of UFC 330.

“Ian Garry. “Im Brazilian nowâ€. “I love my wife's bfâ€. “Women should rule the worldâ€. “I sue people who make fun of a book my wife wroteâ€. Also Garry “why dont people like me,†Strickland said of Garry.

“You're the only bad guy in the UFC who isn't bad, just a cuck.â€

As of this writing, Garry hasn't responded to Strickland.

Garry, who is big for the welterweight division, hasn't ruled out eventually fighting at middleweight during his UFC tenure. If that comes to fruition, don't be surprised if a fight between Garry and Strickland eventually happens.

What is your prediction for Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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ONE Championship

Petnamkhong Sor Maneekhot headlines his second straight card against Wanchainoi Pongsuphan PK in a strawweight Muay Thai main event at The Inner Circle 26, streaming live in Asia primetime this Friday, August 14, from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. A win would push the 22-year-old Laotian-Thai star closer to a US$100,000 main roster contract, the same prize his opponent is chasing on the other side of the ring.

Petnamkhong enters as a clear underdog against a 101-fight veteran from PK Saenchai Muaythaigym, a gap in experience he openly acknowledges without letting it shake his confidence.

“I admit that on paper, I might be the underdog in terms of technical skills and experience. But the one thing I am never an underdog in is my heart,†he said.

Petnamkhong chases redemption on a bigger stage at The Inner Circle 26

The stakes carry extra weight given what it took Petnamkhong to get back to this position. Three consecutive losses between August 2024 and February 2025 forced him into a deliberate break from competition to rebuild his confidence before returning.

Every fight since that break has ended in his favor, and a win over a veteran of Wanchainoi's caliber would represent the clearest validation yet that the turnaround is real.

“This comeback happened because of our team. Even though we are a small team, everyone worked together with unity and dedication, which pushed me to bounce back,†he said.

Beyond the contract and the record, Petnamkhong has said representing Laos on ONE Championship's global stage carries a significance that goes well beyond his own career trajectory.

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Conor McGregor's rematch with Max Holloway was a bit of a succinct yet catastrophic affair, and a UFC Hall of Famer who has connections to both has offered his thoughts on that July prizefight. UFC 329 saw the return of McGregor to the cage after half a decade on the sidelines due to injury. But his International Fight Week comeback against ‘Blessed' Holloway also saw him suffer another injury inside of live competition. Frankie Edgar also has the experience of having fought Max Holloway, as the former fell short to the latter in a bid for UFC gold.

Edgar and Conor McGregor are connected by virtue of both being interwoven into that rich lineage of UFC lightweight champions throughout history. When asked for his thoughts on Max Holloway's rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 329 and the inauspicious nature of what transpired there with ‘The Notorious' sustaining a quick injury, Edgar said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Yeah, it's just unfortunate. It just sucks. Nothing good about that outcome for either guy. But that's just the fight game. Crazy stuff happens all the time. No one anticipated that. You got to feel for Conor in that moment. That's just how it flies. It sucks. Life sucks sometimes [laughs].â€

Conor McGregor sought for UFC Dublin super show by Ian Garry

Conor McGregor has largely had a tough go of things in the 2020's, and while his return timeline is clouded by the nature of his UFC 329 injury, a UFC 330 headliner is still keen on sharing spots on a future card with him. The referenced fighter is fellow Irish mixed martial artist Ian Machado Garry, who challenges Islam Makhachev for the welterweight crown this weekend in Philadelphia.

Touching upon his vision for an Emerald Isle mega event that the Ultimate Fighting Championship could put on, Garry said [via Bloody Elbow],

“I've been talking about trying to get the UFC back to Ireland since I got here. It hasn't happened, and I understand why, I understand reasons, logistics, whatever it is. But when I get this belt I have a lot more power to try and dictate where we fight. I have a lot more power to try and get us back and obviously there was always speculation of Conor McGregor having a Croke Park event.â€

“Next month, one of the greatest fighters in Irish history competes at Croke Park [Katie Taylor]. If that event goes smoothly and successfully, why couldn't the UFC do an event where maybe me and Conor are main and co-main in Croke Park. We don't need anyone else as long as I am champion of the world and we bring a Carlos Prates or a Shavkat Rakhmonov or Islam Makhachev for a rematch. Why not?â€

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