Before the world started arguing about his trash talk, his confidence, his name change, or his rise up the welterweight rankings, Ian Machado Garry was simply a kid from Dublin with a dream big enough to drag him across continents. Today, he speaks Portuguese with his son, trains with Brazilian legends, and carries the Irish tricolor with the same swagger that once belonged to Conor McGregor.

That combination of Irish roots, Portuguese influence, and global ambition has sparked a question fans keep asking: Is Ian Garry actually Portuguese, Irish, or both? As the 16-1 star gears up for his UFC Qatar clash against former champion, Belal Muhammad, let’s break down his ethnicity, background, religion, and more!

Ian Garry’s Irish Nationality

‘The Future’ was born in Ireland, on the 17th of November, 1997. His roots belong to Portmarnock, County Dublin, and he began training in boxing at just 10 years old! All we know about his ethnicity is that he is Irish.

As a proud Irishman, Garry attended local schools, and while not much is known, the fighter was also enrolled Dublin Institute of Technology for a few months. Later, in 2020, the mixed martial artist crossed paths with Layla Anna-Lee and fell in love with her. They began dating and tied the knot on 26 February 2022. Needless to say, Lee has relentlessly supported the 27-year-old as he began his climb in the UFC’s welterweight division. A couple of years ago, the two gave birth to a son and named him Leandro Vegas Machado Garry.

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However, if you’ve heard Ian Garry speak Portuguese, you might be scratching your head. So where’s that coming from? It all began in Brazil, inside the walls of Chute Boxe Academy. In 2023, Garry made the bold move to train under famed coach Diego Lima, joining the same gym as Charles Oliveira. And in a setting where English wasn’t the default, Garry decided to adapt.

He started learning Portuguese to better bond with his teammates and coaches. In fact, a clip of him speaking Portuguese with his son went viral, melting hearts and silencing doubters.

But there’s a deeper layer. His wife, Layla, is half-Brazilian. Her mother hails from Brazil, and the “Machado” in her name is more than just a surname; it’s her cultural lineage. That connection naturally flowed into Garry’s life and his household. So, while he isn’t Portuguese by blood, he’s certainly grown roots through marriage, mentorship, and dedication.

Who Are Ian Garry’s Parents? Father Edwin, Mother Moira & Family Support System

Ian was raised by Edwin and Moira Garry, who have stood beside him through every stage of his rise. His father, a former rugby player, is now a retired police officer. Just like his father, the Irish fighter’s mother has also stood beside him as a source of emotional stability.

Being a big brother sure comes with a ton of responsibilities. Ian Garry has shouldered them pretty well by inspiring his younger brother, Sean Garry, to aspire to become a fighter, just like him. ‘The Future’s elder sister, Kelie Garry, however, has taken a different path and settled in her life as a married woman with two kids.

Ian Garry identifies as a Christian, but his relationship with faith hasn’t been without controversy. Ahead of UFC 296, where he was initially scheduled to fight Vicente Luque, things got a bit messy. Luque, after being baptized and sharing his spiritual rebirth on Instagram, received a comment from Garry that raised more than just eyebrows.

“December 16th he’ll be standing in front of you tall, blonde, and all-powerful,” Garry wrote. Many took it as Garry mocking Luque’s newly embraced Christian beliefs, prompting backlash and accusations of blasphemy. It’s unclear whether Garry intended to poke fun or was simply playing mind games in classic fight promotion style. Yet, long before Ian Garry spoke Portuguese in a Brazilian gym or headlined UFC events across the globe, he was a teenager standing on the Irish coast watching Conor McGregor change the sport.

Irish Fighting Heritage: How Ian Garry Follows Conor McGregor’s Path from Dublin

If Conor McGregor lit the spark for Irish MMA, Garry was one of the kids who felt the flame immediately. And instead of just cheering from the sidelines, he dove into martial arts to build something of his own.

When ‘The Notorious’s rise shook Ireland, Garry decided to try judo, wanting to expand his skillset beyond pure striking. The discipline paid off, he earned his black belt at just 18 years old, a milestone that would later become the backbone of his clinch work and grappling defense. But like any fighter chasing destiny, he had to make a choice. School could wait. The Octagon could not.

Shortly after turning 19, he stepped into the cage for his first amateur bout. At that moment, a young man testing himself under bright lights was the true beginning. By the time he wrapped up his amateur run with a 6–1 record, he knew the next step was inevitable.

In February 2019, Garry made his professional debut at Cage Warriors 101, where he defeated James Sheehan by unanimous decision. The performance didn’t just earn him a win; it earned him Fight of the Night and a contract with Cage Warriors. Momentum built quickly. He collected four more victories before facing former UFC fighter Rostem Akman at Cage Warriors 121, finishing him in under eight minutes.

Then came Cage Warriors 125 and the title shot. Garry faced Jack Grant for the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship, and after five rounds of composure and fire, he won the belt by unanimous decision. By July 2021, the champion from Portmarnock, the kid who watched McGregor shake the world, signed with the UFC.

It was the moment that connected his journey directly to the blueprint laid out by ‘The Notorious’: rise through Cage Warriors, capture the belt, cross the ocean, and try to conquer the world’s biggest MMA promotion. As he prepares to face Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar, one thing is clear: Garry carries Dublin in his spirit, Brazil in his voice, and global ambition in his stride. And maybe that’s what makes him so compelling as a fighter who represents where he’s from, but isn’t afraid to embrace where he’s going next!