Ian Machado Garry's anticipated presence at the UFC 296 media day took an unexpected turn on Wednesday. Originally slated to initiate the question-and-answer session, the 26-year-old Irish prospect failed to show up. In a surprising twist, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson took the lead, and as other fighters made their appearances, Machado Garry remained conspicuously absent.
UFC officials, later confirming Garry's unavailability to MMA Fighting, provided no immediate explanation. Despite multiple attempts to reach out to Garry's representative, Lloyd Pierson, for comments, there was no response.
In the lead-up to his clash with Vicente Luque, Garry found himself entangled in various controversies. Notably, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland directed harsh criticism toward Garry and his wife, Layla Machado Garry. Strickland labeled Layla a "sexual predator" due to their age difference—Ian is 26, while Layla is 40. Strickland also targeted a satirical 11-page book she authored on marrying a professional athlete, sharing alleged direct messages from Garry threatening legal action.
Amid ongoing online clashes and harassment, Machado Garry expressed concerns about bringing his family to Las Vegas for the fights. He emphasized his caution, stating, "I’m a little bit cautious about going to America for the safety of my family with all the s*** that’s been going on online. To protect my wife, to protect my child, to protect myself."
While Machado Garry did arrive in Las Vegas for UFC 296 fight week, his absence at media day raised eyebrows. His next scheduled appearance is at the UFC 296 pre-fight press conference on Thursday.
Following Machado Garry's no-show, Luque addressed the situation during his Q&A session, expressing understanding for Garry's concerns about family safety. Luque acknowledged the sacrifices Garry might be making by not participating in media obligations but respected his decision in prioritizing his family's well-being.