Tension has been brewing between No. 6-ranked Welterweight contender, Ian Machado Garry, and former 170-pound kingpin, Leon Edwards, for nearly two years. And Garry never misses a chance to take a shot at his fellow U.K.-based fighter.
But, according to him, they’ll never fight.
Fast forward to 2025, and the bad blood hasn’t cooled. Garry has repeatedly taken aim at Edwards — calling him weak, predicting his retirement, and accusing him of lying about what really happened at Renegade.
“They lied, and I don’t like liars,” Garry told Ariel Helwani. “When people make up lies and things that aren’t true. I don’t like that because I know people’s true colors then, and I know the truth…. I’ve been saying this for a long time, I think he should be retired, and we might see that.”
Garry went on to say he has no interest in ever sharing the Octagon with Edwards.
“No, it doesn’t bother me [that I won’t fight him],” Garry said. “I have no want, no interest ever for him to ever earn any money off me. If he was willing to fight me for all or nothing, I’d fight him in a heartbeat because I’d make sure he’d leave there absolutely punch-round unconscious and then leave with no benefit. But I have no want to see him, nor his team ever.”
It’s worth noting that Garry has yet to knock anyone unconscious inside the Octagon.
Nevertheless, Garry will be rooting for his former opponent, Carlos Prates, when the Brazilian takes on Edwards at UFC 322 on Nov. 15, 2025, inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“I’m going to have a Brazil flag on my shoulders come November 15, cheering Carlos Prates on, watching him spark Leon Edwards unconscious,” Garry concluded. “I’m shocked he took the fight in the first place. He’s gonna absolutely get punch-round.”
