Dana White is certain that he can transform Ian Garry into a sensation, having previously aided his compatriot in becoming the most popular fighter in the history of mixed martial arts.
In 2013, Conor McGregor entered the UFC as a talented combatant and orator but has since achieved feats that were once deemed unattainable for an MMA athlete.
The ‘Notorious’ became the first individual to concurrently hold two UFC belts and subsequently earned $100 million [£80m] from a cross-discipline fight with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
He topped Forbes’ list of wealthiest athletes in 2021. Garry, inspired by witnessing another Irishman achieve so much in the sport, began his own career in MMA and has rapidly developed into one of the UFC’s most thrilling prospects.
‘The Future’ earned his most impressive victory to date on Saturday evening, knocking out top-15 ranked Daniel Rodriguez in less than one round at UFC Charlotte, a performance that impressed his idol.
Garry also caught the attention of the UFC president, who revealed his intention to have the 25-year-old compete in either New York or Boston next before headlining a card in Ireland, similar to McGregor’s ascent to stardom.
“He looked fantastic tonight. Of course, he fought against a durable, dangerous, and skilled prospect,” White stated during his press conference following the fight.
Dana White may have found his next star
“He looked awesome tonight. Obviously, he fought a guy very durable, dangerous, and a prospect in his own right,” White said during his post-fight press conference.
“That’s why we build these types of cards, especially the main events. He looked awesome tonight. He’s super confident, and that kid’s ready to take over the world.
“We have the Irish guy blueprint around here. So, we’ll probably take him to Boston, or MSG, and then eventually Ireland if he keeps doing what he’s doing.”
In an interview before his fifth UFC bout, Garry shared his intention to compete against six ranked contenders before challenging Leon Edwards for the welterweight championship. It seems that he reiterated this career blueprint to White following his decisive triumph over Rodriguez, with the UFC president expressing admiration for the strategy.
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