Ian Machado Garry explains why he finally accepted Joaquin Buckley fight at UFC Tampa: ‘Colby and Usman said no’

Ian Machado Garry never imagined fighting Joaquin Buckley, but the two are now booked to main event UFC Tampa this coming December. “The Future” claims the matchup came together after every other top-ranked welterweight declined to fight him or was already booked.

Back in 2023, Garry and Buckley crossed paths at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas and “New Mansa” tried lobbying for a fight with the undefeated Irish contender. Garry, who was doing his best to crack the division’s top 10 rankings at that time, had no interest in sharing the Octagon with Buckley. Garry didn’t want to fight anyone below him in the division and claimed to only be looking up.

Buckley, who had returned to welterweight right around the same time the two fighters discussed a potential matchup, was simply trying to shoot his shot. It was hard to blame him since Garry was (and still is) one of the most talked about young fighters in the sport and someone fight fans want to see either win very badly or lose very badly. However, “New Mansa” was denied his chance to give Garry his first pro loss and had to work his way up to the opportunity.

Now that Buckley is 5-0 as a UFC welterweight and coming off a spectacular knockout win over UFC mainstay Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, Garry has officially changed his mind. Buckley’s ability to get Garry to agree to a fight was also made possible by other top contenders like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington turning down a matchup with “Future,” per Garry.

On Saturday, Garry took to social media to discuss his newly booked main event with Buckley and explain why he denied him to his face just one year ago. Check it out below:

“Back in 2023 after my fight with DRod, me and @newmansa94 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.”