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Longtime UFC play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik doesn’t understand why Ian Machado Garry isn’t considered a fan favorite.
UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry will get the chance to snap Islam Makhachev’s chase of history this weekend at UFC 330. The UFC welterweight champ Makhachev is looking to surpass UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva‘s record-setting winning streak by retaining his title against Garry.
Ahead of UFC 330, Garry hasn’t exactly drawn the love of the UFC fanbase. A recent pre-fight media tour exacerbated fan hate, as evidenced by his frosty reception at the UFC 330 press conference.
Despite his impressive performances inside the Octagon, Garry hasn’t received the credit from the majority of UFC fans due to non-fighting matters. Longtime UFC play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik believes Garry is overdue credit for his talent.
Jon Anik questions Ian Machado Garry’s frosty relationship with the UFC fan base.
In a recent episode of The Anik & Florian Podcast, Anik weighed in on the fan hatred aimed at Garry ahead of UFC 330.
“He really has been underappreciated by every pocket of this fanbase that would rather focus on his wife and other things,” Anik said of Garry.
“Now, I could sit here and take that side, too, and say to you guys in a moment of veracity that he’s the only fighter to come into a fighter meeting and sit with his a– on the f—— table and hold court, right? He’s also maybe the only fighter whose time has expired (in the interview) and who is like, ‘No, I’m staying. We’re still going.’
“But I absolutely love him and when I look at his legacy on paper, the loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov was wicked competitive. He’s 17-1, he’s put in all the right work, he’s aligned with Diego Lima and Charles Oliveira,” Anik continued on Garry. “I’ve said I want to grow my hair and blonde and join those guys. I just feel like he’s done so many things right and everybody focuses on maybe some things he hasn’t done well verbally.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
What is your prediction for Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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