TLDR
- Dana White appeared to leak that Conor McGregor will fight Ian Garry in his UFC return
- White confirmed the bout won’t take place in Ireland during a recent interview
- McGregor has been out since breaking his leg in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier
- Ian Garry is an undefeated Irish welterweight with a 15-0 professional record
- The fight location remains unknown, though Las Vegas is a likely destination
Sources: Yahoo Sports | MMAWeekly.com | MMANews.com
UFC President Dana White appears to have leaked Conor McGregor’s next opponent during a recent interview. White revealed that McGregor will likely face fellow Irish fighter Ian Garry when he returns to the octagon.
The information came out during a conversation about potential fight locations. White stated that the bout “won’t be in Ireland,” confirming that plans are already in motion for the matchup.
McGregor has been out of action since suffering a leg injury in July 2021 during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. The former two-division champion broke his tibia in the first round of that bout at UFC 264.
Ian Garry is an undefeated welterweight prospect from Dublin, Ireland. He currently holds a perfect professional record and has been rising through the UFC ranks since joining the promotion in 2021.
McGregor’s Long-Awaited Return
The potential matchup has generated buzz among MMA fans since both fighters are Irish. McGregor, 36, is the biggest star in UFC history and previously held titles at featherweight and lightweight.
Garry, 27, has been vocal about wanting to fight McGregor in the past. The younger fighter has built his career in the welterweight division and models his fighting style after McGregor.
DID Dana White JUST LEAK THE FIGHT?! Conor McGregor vs Ian Garry!
UFC London post-fight press conference… something BIG slipped 👀
When asked about future matchups, Dana casually mentioned:
🇮🇪 Conor McGregor vs Ian Garry 🇮🇪
Wait…WHAT?! And @ChaelSonnen picks up the story pic.twitter.com/tSB1Niw6sO— Yannis Michalandos (@michalandos) March 24, 2026
White’s apparent slip-up gives fans the first concrete information about McGregor’s return plans. The UFC has been tight-lipped about when and where McGregor would fight next.
McGregor has been recovering from his leg injury for nearly four years. He has been posting training videos on social media showing his progress in the gym.
Fight Location Still Unknown
While White confirmed the fight won’t take place in Ireland, he didn’t reveal the actual location. Las Vegas, where McGregor has fought many times, remains a likely destination.
McGregor previously headlined UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against Khabib Nurmagomedov. That event drew 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, making it the biggest in UFC history.
The Irish superstar has also competed at Madison Square Garden in New York. He knocked out Eddie Alvarez there in 2016 to become the first fighter to hold two UFC titles at once.
Garry’s undefeated record stands at 15-0 in mixed martial arts. He has won all seven of his UFC fights, with his most recent victory coming against Michael Page in June 2024.
McGregor’s return has been one of the most anticipated comebacks in combat sports. He has not won a fight since January 2020 when he knocked out Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.
The matchup between McGregor and Garry would pit Ireland’s biggest star against its rising prospect. White’s leak suggests the UFC is moving forward with plans to book the fight in the coming months.
