"I don't play games"- Ian Garry sets the record straight on fighting Joaquin Buckley despite past refusals
Ian Garry has been matched up with Joaquin Buckley after the Irishman's previous refusal to accept a bout with the Missouri native. With a famous video of Garry explaining to Buckely's face exactly why 'New Mansa' didn't deserve to fight him, 'The Future' has now shared a statement explaining his change of stance.
Garry is currently ranked No.7 in the welterweight division. He has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career and is 8-0 inside the hallowed octagon.
Buckley finds himself at No.9 and riding a five-fight winning streak. Most recently, the American secured a massive KO win over Stephen Thompson at UFC 307, a result that not many expected.
Following the announcement that they would be fighting at UFC Tampa on Dec. 14, the 26-year-old took to Instagram to share the now-famous video of him detailing to Buckley why he couldn't fight him. He included in the caption of the post a reason for why he had changed his mind, as he wrote this:
"Back in 2023 after my fight with [Daniel Rodriguez], me and [Buckley] had this conversation… Since then he’s climbed up the rankings with some good knockouts. Still not done enough to be above me, but as Colby has said no, and Usman said no and everyone else above me is matched or injured I’ll give Buckley this opportunity - I don’t wait. I don’t play games. I fight."
Check out Ian Garry's post below:
Joaquin Buckley shares skit in reaction to fighting Ian Garry
UFC Tampa will be headlined by an exciting clash between Ian Garry and Joaquin Buckley on Dec. 14.
It is the first main event fight of both welterweights' careers, and it will be fascinating to see how they navigate the additional two rounds of their five-round bout.
With 'The Future' famously stating that he would not previously fight Buckley because he was ranked lower than the Irishman, 'New Mansa' took to social media to share an ironic skit in reaction to his fight with Garry being announced.
After a clip of the 26-year-old's viral rant was shown on Buckley's post, the video cut to the American sitting at a fast-food restaurant reacting to his opponent's previous comments, saying this:
"Damn, that's crazy."
Check out Joaquin Buckley's reaction to fighting Ian Garry below: