TLDR
- Eddie Hearn signed UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry to Matchroom Talent Agency
- Machado Garry is the second UFC fighter to join Hearn’s agency after heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall
- The signing comes during an ongoing feud between Hearn and UFC president Dana White
- Machado Garry will fight Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight title on August 15 in Philadelphia
- Hearn has criticized UFC fighter pay and called Aspinall’s contract a ‘disgrace’
Sources: sports.yahoo.com
Eddie Hearn has signed UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry to the Matchroom Talent Agency, adding a second UFC fighter to his new venture. The 28-year-old Irishman is currently ranked as the UFC’s No. 1 welterweight contender.
The signing marks the latest development in an ongoing feud between Hearn and UFC president Dana White. Earlier this year, Hearn signed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to his talent agency, which caused controversy in the MMA world.
Machado Garry joins England rugby player Henry Pollock at the new talent agency. Hearn is not signing these athletes to his Matchroom boxing promotion, but rather to represent them across their careers.
Feud With Dana White Intensifies
The relationship between Hearn and White has been strained in recent months. White launched Zuffa Boxing earlier this year and even signed Conor Benn, a fighter Hearn had supported throughout his entire boxing career.
Hearn had backed Benn through a two-year saga involving two failed drug tests. The move to sign Benn was seen as a direct challenge to Hearn’s position in boxing.
Ian Machado Garry says he did not contact Tom Aspinall before signing with Matchroom Talent Agency:
"I believe that me and Tom Aspinall are in very, very different situations right now… I am getting everything that I've wanted.
I'm happy with everything that I've negotiated,… pic.twitter.com/ETQ2yr1RuK
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 24, 2026
Aspinall’s signing proved especially controversial given his recent frustrations with the UFC. In October, his fight against Ciryl Gane ended in a no-contest after Aspinall suffered multiple eye pokes and could not continue.
White suggested Aspinall chose not to keep fighting, but the injuries required double eye surgery. Aspinall took exception to White’s comments about the incident.
Title Fight Announcement
Machado Garry’s signing comes days after the UFC announced his next fight. He will challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight title on August 15 at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
Makhachev is currently ranked as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the UFC. The Russian will be defending the welterweight championship in the main event.
“I have a lot respect for Matchroom,” Machado Garry said in a statement. “Signing with their talent agency isn’t just a step outside of the Octagon, it’s an extension of the same mission: be undeniable everywhere.”
He added that the partnership is about building a legacy. “Matchroom was built by a family that turned a vision into an empire, and that’s exactly the kind of legacy I love,” he said.
Hearn praised his new client as a future superstar. “Ian Machado Garry is on the cusp of greatness, and I truly believe he is the one of the next big superstars in combat sport,” Hearn said.
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The 46-year-old promoter explained why he chose to work with Machado Garry. “Since signing UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, we have been inundated with MMA athletes asking us to represent them,” Hearn said.
“But we handpicked Ian because he was someone who we really wanted to work with – and someone we truly believe in,” he continued. Hearn called Machado Garry “one of the most charismatic and skilful fighters in the sport today.”
Hearn predicted victory for his new client. “On August 15 he will win the UFC welterweight championship,” he said.
Hearn has been vocal about UFC fighter pay in recent months, particularly since working with Aspinall. The promoter called Aspinall’s UFC contract a “disgrace” in one interview, further straining his relationship with White and the UFC.
