Ian Machado Garry is making moves outside the Octagon as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.
The top-ranked welterweight contender announced on Wednesday that he has signed a commercial and marketing partnership with Matchroom Talent Agency, the company founded by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
The move comes just weeks before Garry challenges Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 330 in Philadelphia this August.
Taking to social media, Ian Machado Garry shared his excitement about the new partnership.
“Congratulations Matchroom Talent Agency, you’ve signed the future,” Garry wrote on Instagram. “I’m excited to announce Team Future just got bigger. Alongside Vayner Sports, I’ll be joining The Matchroom Talent Agency, who will now work across my commercial interests.”
Unlike UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who signed with Hearn for full representation, Ian Machado Garry’s agreement is strictly focused on commercial opportunities and brand growth. His management remains with Vayner Sports, which will continue handling contract negotiations and discussions with the UFC.
The announcement comes at a crucial stage in Garry’s career. The Irish star is set to receive his first UFC title shot when he faces reigning champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 330.
Speaking recently about the deal, Ian Machado Garry explained that the opportunity to expand his profile across Europe played a major role in his decision.
“It all came about a couple of months ago,” Garry said. “The interest came, they reached out to me and my team, and I loved the idea of working with them.
“I have a lot of respect for them and what they’ve done in the sporting industry. The fact they’ve opened up a talent agency, I saw so many avenues to potentially grow my brand in England, Ireland and across Europe.
“I thought it was a no-brainer. When they reached out, I loved the idea of it.”
Despite Eddie Hearn’s ongoing feud with UFC CEO Dana White, Garry stressed that the partnership has nothing to do with his fighting career or negotiations with the promotion.
“He is my only contact with the UFC,” Garry said while referring to his agent Lloyd Pearson. “If Hunter and the UFC ever have a problem, they call me. There is no in-between. I am a man, I don’t need anybody else to do my work for me.
“I hired Lloyd to make sure he runs all the Xs and Os.This signing has nothing to do with the UFC. It has nothing to do with my job inside the Octagon. It has everything to do with outside the Octagon.
“I want Eddie and Matchroom Talent Agency to do as much as they physically possibly can to get the most amount of attention on my name.”
The timing of the partnership is noteworthy given the ongoing war of words between Hearn and Dana White. Their relationship has deteriorated significantly since White launched Zuffa Boxing in early 2026, with both promoters repeatedly taking shots at one another in public.
Hearn has also become heavily involved in Tom Aspinall’s career and recently criticized the UFC over fighter pay while advocating for the heavyweight champion during his recovery from multiple eye surgeries.
Ian Machado Garry, however, made it clear that he has no interest in getting caught up in the dispute.
“There is beef at the moment between Dana White and Eddie Hearn,” Garry said.”I don’t care for their beef. I don’t care for what their relationship is or what problems they have with each other.
“I am the No. 1-ranked fighter in the UFC welterweight division, fighting the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world for that belt.
“What I do in the UFC has absolutely nothing to do with what I do outside of the sport and how me and Matchroom Talent Agency decide to grow my brand.”
