Ian Machado Garry didn't hold back in responding to Sean Strickland's comments about the trash-talking culture in MMA.
Both fighters, Garry with a record of 13-0 MMA and 6-0 UFC, and Strickland at 28-5 MMA and 15-5 UFC, have been involved in giving and receiving verbal jabs. At the 2024 UFC seasonal press conference, Strickland criticized Garry for disabling Instagram comments and for talking smack about other fighters while struggling with criticism himself. The tension escalated when Strickland's rival, Dricus Du Plessis, brought up Strickland's abusive childhood, leading to a brawl at UFC 296.

โThereโs some things that are off limits,โ Strickland told comedian Theo Von on theย โThis Past Weekendโ podcast. โYou donโt really talk about a manโs wife, you donโt talk about a manโs kids, and you donโt about a kid being abused. These things are all off limits.
โOnce (Du Plessis) crossed that, I tried to f*cking ignore it. I was boiling. Whenever Dricus goes on there, and he jokes about that sh*t, dude, you have no idea. Iโll f*cking kill you. You have no idea. I think the issue is too, when youโre a kid, and youโre made to be a victim your whole life, as an adult, youโre like, โNever again. Iโll f*cking kill you.โ
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With Strickland expressing dissatisfaction over Du Plessis going too far, Garry has retaliated, targeting Strickland for his initial remarks at the press conference concerning how he dealt with the recent criticism he faced.
โHow the tables have turned,โ Garry commented on anย Instagram postย by MMA Fighting. โYou dish it out in the lowest, most vile manner, but canโt take a pinch. You attacked my wife incessantly and obsessively, calling her a (pedophile).
โItโs clear to see your childhood trauma showing. You claimed you were โgiving me adviceโ before, well now itโs my turn to return the favor: You should shut your mouth and focus on the mirror because you have enough serious issues you need to solve. I wish you all the best with them. Donโt ever project your pain onto me and my family again.โ
Strickland will defend his middleweight title against Du Plessis at UFC 297 on Jan. 20 in Toronto. Garry, on the other hand, is set to make his comeback against Geoff Neal at UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, Calif.
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