UFC News

Sean Strickland Criticizes Ian Machado Garry's Reaction to Fan Backlash

August 15, 2026Pablo Navarro2 мин

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has reignited his public dispute with fellow fighter Ian Machado Garry, criticizing Garry's handling of recent fan backlash. This comes just before UFC 330, where Garry is set to face UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event.

Ian Machado Garry is on the cusp of the most significant fight of his career, headlining UFC 330 against Islam Makhachev. While Garry has achieved notable success in the Octagon, his actions and statements outside the cage have made him a controversial figure among UFC fans. Notably, some of his recent media appearances and comments, particularly regarding women in leadership roles, have generated considerable criticism.

Garry's persona has not resonated well with some of his peers, including Makhachev and Sean Strickland. At the UFC 330 pre-fight press conference, Makhachev openly stated that Garry is disliked within the organization.

Strickland, who has a long-standing public feud with Garry, has previously labeled the Irish fighter as "fake" and rejected a challenge from him. Ahead of UFC 330, Strickland has again spoken out against Garry.

Sean Strickland Reignites Feud with Ian Machado Garry Before UFC 330

In a recent social media post, Strickland mocked Garry's reaction to ongoing criticism from fans leading up to UFC 330. Strickland humorously questioned Garry's confusion about his lack of popularity, referencing Garry's statements such as "I'm Brazilian now," "I love my wife's boyfriend," and his claims about women ruling the world, as well as his intention to sue individuals for mocking a book written by his wife. Strickland concluded by calling Garry "the only bad guy in the UFC who isn’t bad, just a cuck."

As of now, Garry has not publicly responded to Strickland's latest remarks.

Garry, who is known for his size in the welterweight division, has previously indicated that he might consider moving up to middleweight during his UFC career. If this move occurs, a future fight between Garry and Strickland could become a possibility.