Ian Garry is one of the most impressive prospects of the UFC. The Irishman has been in Las Vegas-based promotion for around three years and is undefeated with seven wins under his belt owing to his elite-level striking prowess. However, ‘The Future’ has also become the talk of the town because of his personal life.

Some years ago, Ian Garry decided to change his name to ‘Ian Machado Garry’. Speculations and rumors arose that he’d taken his wife’s ex-husband’s name. The MMA fighter married his partner Layla Anna-Lee in Las Vegas on 26 February 2022. So is there any truth to the rumors?

Who is Layla Anna-Lee, how is the name Machado connected?

Layla Machado, born Layla Anna-Lee, is a British television presenter and host known for her specialization in sports broadcasting. She was born in London on 22 March 1983 to a Brazilian mother and an English father of Irish and Scottish ancestry. Attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London played a significant role in shaping her career. Years later, she would marry and then eventually separate from her ex, Richard Cullen.

So there is, in fact, no truth to the idea of Garry adopting his partner’s husband’s last name. Machado is actually Anna-Lee’s maiden name from her mother’s side. The TV presenter has made this clear and it has been rather accessible public knowledge.

Anna-Lee has also made her mark in sports presenting, including hosting the BMX European Championships for Eurosport, major road cycling events, and National Championships for Sky Sports. In the sports world, she gained international recognition for her voice as she announced the opening ceremony and beach volleyball tournaments at the 2012 Summer Olympics. In spite of all of this, she still had to struggle with the name-calling and rumors spread online. This followed after her marriage to Garry.

Ian Garry, himself, built his fighting career exclusively under the Cage Warriors banner before making his transition to Dana White’s promotion. Their romantic relationship blossomed around 2020, coinciding with Garry’s rise as a promising prospect within the promotion. The two tied the knot in Las Vegas on February 26, 2022. The couple joyfully announced in April 2022 that they were expecting their first child, marking an exciting new chapter in their lives. And the children were a big reason for Garry to change his name.

Ian Machado Garry showed up to UFC 298 with pride in his name

Ian Garry, a rising star in the world of mixed martial arts, and his wife Layla Anna-Lee were eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first child in April 2022. The couple’s excitement was coupled with a surprising change in Ian Garry’s nickname during his fight introduction at UFC 273. Renowned announcer Bruce Buffer introduced him as ‘Garry Machado’, leaving fans curious about the sudden alteration.

Watch This Story: UFC Legend Throws Up After Intense Training With Former Navy SEAL 

To provide clarity on the matter, ‘The Future’ had to explain his side of things. “The truth is I only did it because I wanted my son and my stepson to really feel connected,” Garry told CBS Sports. “I didn’t want them going through life with two separate surnames. I feel like there is a little bit of a disconnect. If you guys want to be brothers, I want to make sure you guys have that same connection.”

In October 2022, Ian Garry and Layla Machado happily announced the birth of their baby boy, marking a joyous milestone in their journey as parents. After all the online thrashing, Garry has came back to defeat Geoff Neal via a split decision at UFC 298 in February 2024. The two met at UFC 298 in a welterweight bout after a contentious build-up that included the Irishman putting Neal’s mugshot on a t-shirt. ‘The Future’ is gearing up to face striking maestro Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 303 on June 29 in a bout that may see him get a shot at a top-5 ranked welterweight opponent next.

Read More – “He’s Got It, Whatever It Is”: Joe Rogan Raves Over Conor McGregor’s Protégé Ian Garry After Irishman’s Impressive Undefeated Run