Ian Machado Garry signs with Eddie Hearn ahead of UFC title shot
The Irish contender joins Matchroom Talent Agency while preparing for his welterweight title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330.
Ian Machado Garry takes a seat next to Tom Aspinall and signs a contract with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom talent agency ahead of his upcoming title fight against Islam Makhachev. Eddie Hearn, who has long been in a public feud with UFC President Dana White, now seems to want to give him a little competition. The feud between the two began after Dana White founded Zuffa Boxing in early 2026 and has been a constant presence in the MMA world ever since. With Ian Machado Garry, however, Eddie Hearn now has a top-notch fighter on his side. Ian Machado Garry, who boasts an impressive record of 17-1-0, seems to be enjoying his new role as well.
“Congratulations to Matchroom Talent Agency, you've signed the future.”
he wrote on Instagram. However, it’s important to note that Matchroom will be responsible solely for marketing and promotion, and will not manage the organization of his fights. The sports agency Vayner Sports remains in charge of that for him, and this does not appear to be changing.
The signed contract is the second big piece of news this week from Ian Machado Garry. The goal in August is to take the title from Islam Makhachev, and perhaps this deal will give him the boost he needs. As he himself says, Eddie Hearn’s team is a perfect fit for his image.
“Matchroom was built by a family that turned a vision into an empire, and that’s exactly the kind of legacy I love. My team is my family too; it’s how I operate, it’s how I win. Together we can continue to be disruptive and change the game.”
said Ian Machado Garry.
Together, they want to achieve great things, and according to Eddie, they want to finally secure for him the superstar status he deserves. He'll get his big chance to do just that in August.
Personally, I think this signing could make the fight between Ian Machado Garry and Islam Makhachev a lot more interesting. These are the little details that might cause more delays than you’d think at first. It remains to be seen whether it will ultimately make a decisive difference, but in my opinion, it’s still a good decision.