Ian Garry won’t be competing at UFC 296 due to a case of pneumonia.
After reports, prompted by X user RealJesseonFire and subsequently Chael Sonnen swirled from Wednesday that Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) might be out of his welterweight fight Saturday against Vicente Luque (22-9-1 MMA, 15-5 UFC) following his absence from media day, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the news.
“I know it’s out there. There’s some speculation that Ian Garry and Luque is off,” White said in an Instagram video. “It is true. It is. Ian Garry started with the flu. That turned into pneumonia. So that fight is off and is not happening. It is true.”
White did not indicate whether Luque will get a replacement opponent.
Garry, No. 14 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, sees a dramatic lead-up to his planned bout with No. 13-ranked Luque come to a disappointing conclusion.
The Irishman has been has been the centerpiece of much conversation going into fight week due to facing former Kill Cliff FC training partner Luque, his relocation to multiple gyms throughout training camp and the online backlash he’s received due to a social media examination into the relationship with his wife, Layla.
Before fight week began, Garry said he was concerned about “the safety” of his wife and child. There was anticipation to hear from him during his appearance at Wednesday’s UFC 296 media day. Garry was the first fighter scheduled to speak, but did not arrive at the UFC Apex for his time slot.
Hours later, it was confirmed by White that Garry was dealing with an illness and would not compete.
UFC 296 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
