Ian Garry name change: Why did the Irish prospect start using the name ‘Machado’ in his UFC introduction?

Rising UFC welterweight fighter Ian Garry started using the name Machado in his introduction. Check out the wholesome story behind it.

Ian Garry name change: Why did the Irish prospect start using the name ‘Machado’ in his UFC introduction?

Ian Garry (via Imago)

Ian Machado Garry is a rising star in the UFC welterweight division. He is known for his precision striking, which helps him outbox most opponents inside the octagon. Not many fight fans understand why he uses his middle name, Machado, in the octagon. In fact, Ian Garry had a name change with a wholesome story to it.

Since entering the UFC, he has put on an impressive winning streak, with two coming by way of stoppage. Ian Garry started boxing at a young age, and the rise of fellow Irishman Conor McGregor inspired him to switch to MMA. Fast forward many years, Garry’s personality and story make him a fascinating prospect to watch out for. Check out the significance of the name Machado in Garry’s life.

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Who is Layla Anna-Lee?

Ian Garry started dating English TV presenter Layla Machado, better known as Layla Anna-Lee. Layla specialized in sports broadcasting and covered the Cage Warriors promotion for BT Sports. Garry fought under the Cage Warriors banner entirely before joining the UFC. The pair started dating around 2020 when Garry became a top prospect in the promotion.

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Layla Machado Ian Garry
Ian Garry and Layla Machado (Image Courtesy – The Irish Mirror)

Layla was born to a Brazilian mother and an English father of Irish and Scottish descent. She attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. While pursuing a career in broadcasting, she went by the stage name of Layla Anna-Lee. However, according to official records, her name is Layla Machado. She is known for presenting The Best Fifa Football Awards alongside Idris Elba.

Layla Anna-Lee penned the controversial book How to be a WAG. The book found controversy in late 2023, before Garry’s canceled bout at UFC 296. Furthermore, the relationship between Anna-Lee and Garry eventually made its way to social media controversy involving her ex-husband.

Why did Ian Garry start using the name Machado in his UFC introduction?

Ian Garry and his wife Layla were expecting their first child in April 2022. The Irish fighter defeated Darian Weeks at UFC 273. During his fight introduction, most fans were surprised when Bruce Buffer introduced Garry with the middle name Machado. However, ESPN MMA reporter Megan Olivi shed some light on the reason.

Ian Garry
Ian Garry and his family (Image Courtesy – Instagram)

This is what Olivi said: 

His wife, Layla, is Brazilian, and Machado was her last name. She has a son who also has Machado in his name. And now that they’re expecting again, they wanted to make sure that the brothers had a name in common. So that they felt they were all one big family with co-parenting. So they all added it to their name so that none felt left out.
Megan Olivi via UFC 273 broadcast

It is a wholesome story about why Garry changed his name. The couple announced the birth of their baby boy in October 2022. During this time, Garry took some time away from the UFC. He returned in March 2023 to fight in the prelims of UFC 285. Since UFC 273, he has fought as Ian Machado Garry.

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