Kamaru Usman Leaks DMs From ‘Big Fan’ Ian Garry Over Allegations of “Running” From UFC 310 Replacement Offer

Ian Garry showed immense courage by stepping in on short notice to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, but the Irishman’s efforts fell short against his former teammate. Still, ‘The Future’ remained undeterred in defeat, expressing optimism about his future in the octagon. But before we look ahead, let’s rewind a bit. Do you remember the bold claims Garry made leading up to his fight with ‘Nomad’?

In the weeks prior, Garry made headlines by accusing former champion Kamaru Usman and former interim titleholder Colby Covington of “running” from a fight against him. The Irishman took a page out of ‘Mystic Mac’s’ playbook, calling Usman a coward and ramping up the trash talk. But here’s the twist—according to Usman, Garry hasn’t always been this antagonistic.

During the latest episode of the Pound for Pound Podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman dropped a surprising revelation: Ian Garry is, or at least was, a fan of his. Usman even pulled out receipts, sharing a DM Garry sent him back in 2021. The message read, “Ian Garry 2021—right April 27, it’s a pleasure to watch you do what you do in that cage. Nothing but respect. From Ian Garry.” 

Usman further said, “This kid is a fan of mine. A big fan of mine.” The comment, delivered with a sarcastic edge, left Cejudo in fits of laughter. The former welterweight champion then revealed that Garry had deleted the DM after their public feud began—a move that Usman didn’t let slide.

It is clear that Usman isn’t fazed by the Irishman’s antics. The playful exchange further highlighted the tension brewing between the two fighters and left fans wondering if a showdown could be on the horizon.

Kamaru Usman claps back at Ian Garry after what the latter said

During the same Pound for Pound podcast episode, Usman didn’t hold back in responding to Garry’s allegations. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ dismissed the idea that he would never be afraid of Garry, stating, “We fight to make money. If we don’t fight, we don’t get paid. Anyone in the UFC has to step in there to get paid. So the notion that ‘Oh yeah, they were scared of me’—like, who are you? Who are you that I, of all people, are scared of you?”

Addressing Garry’s apparent frustration, Usman added, “I guess he was upset because he wanted me to be his late-notice replacement for his fight. Who the f** is that guy for me to be a late replacement for?” Usman last competed at UFC 294 in 2023, where he lost his middleweight debut on short notice against Khamzat Chimaev.

Before that, he had suffered back-to-back defeats to Leon Edwards, signaling a challenging chapter in his career. Still, rumors suggest that Usman could soon face rising star Jack Della Maddalena in 2025. Garry, meanwhile, has also faced his first career setback which ended his undefeated streak. Despite this, Garry hasn’t held back, continuing to claim that Usman is “scared” to fight him.

During the podcast, Henry Cejudo fueled the fire, proposing that a fight between Usman and Garry would be highly entertaining. Usman, however, remained dismissive, replying, “Does he even deserve that?” With Usman’s historic title reign and Garry’s undeniable charisma, a clash between the two fighters would undoubtedly captivate fans. Could all this trash talk be laying the groundwork for a future showdown? Share your thoughts in the comments!