- Ian Garry did not attend media day on Wednesday, setting alarm bells ringing
- It has now been confirmed by Garry that a doctor has said he cannot fight
- Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett MUST seize his moment in the UFC 296 limelight after seeing his career stutter – The Hook
Ian Garry has been forced to pull out of his UFC 296 showdown with Vicente Luque due to pneumonia.
Garry, who did not show up to media day obligations on Wednesday, confirmed the fight is off and said: ‘I have pneumonia. They tried everything to help me. In the end, UFC doctor said there’s no chance I can fight.
‘The UFC doctor made the call. … This annoys me more than anyone. I want to fight. It’s my favorite thing to do.’
The Irish rising star has been dealing with the spotlight shining brighter than ever in the build-up to UFC 296 for a number of reasons.
His wife Layla Machado Garry’s short 2010 book ‘How to be a WAG’ resurfaced and led to fans and fellow fighters such as Sean Strickland and Colby Covington posting a number of taunts.
Ian Garry has had to pull out of UFC 296 after suffering with pneumonia
Garry (pictured with his wife Layla and son Leo), was one of the fighters of great interest on the UFC 296 card but the illness means he is unable to compete
There was also a very public disagreement about him parting ways with Renegade Gym in Birmingham.
Leon Edwards and his coach say Garry was kicked out due to not fitting in with the culture, while the Irishman insists it is because Edwards’ coach felt insecure about having a fellow welterweight train so closely with his champion.
Saturday night’s opponent Vicente Luque responded magnanimously to news of the withdrawal, writing: ‘First of all, I wish the best recovery. Speedy recovery for him, and the best for his family – and it’s really unfortunate.
‘I was so ready for this fight. I’ve had a great training camp. Anybody that sees me on social media sees a little bit of what I’ve been doing. They know how ready I am for this fight. Weight cut has been going so, so good – the easiest weight cut I’ve ever had in my career.
‘I have all my team here supporting me. A lot of guys came out in this fight. A lot of people supported me to come watch the fight, as well, and unfortunately it’s not going to happen.
‘It’s out of my control. Everything that I could do, everything that I have control of in my job and really put my heart into this, I did. I gave it my all. Unfortunately, we cannot really control everything.
‘As I said, I wish the best. I wish recovery for Ian. Now it’s time for me to rest. I did have a hard training camp.’
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