Irish Contender Forced to Withdraw due to Pneumonia

The highly anticipated UFC 296 event has been dealt a significant setback with the withdrawal of welterweight fighter Ian Garry. The Irish contender was set to kick off the stacked pay-per-view main card with a career-defining clash against former team-mate Vicente Luque. However, Garry has been forced to withdraw from the bout due to pneumonia.

Speculation Surrounding Garry's Absence

Garry's absence from Wednesday's media day raised questions among fans and pundits. Many believed he had skipped the event due to the recent attention surrounding his wife, Layla Machado Garry. However, it has since been revealed that Garry has been battling pneumonia, leading to his withdrawal from the card.

Announcement from Dana White

UFC president Dana White confirmed Garry's withdrawal in the early hours of Thursday morning. Addressing the speculation, White stated, "Guys, I know it's out there and there's some speculation that Ian Garry [versus Vicente] Luque is off. It's true, it is." According to White, Garry initially had the flu, which subsequently developed into pneumonia, forcing him to pull out of the fight.

Unfortunate Timing for Garry

The undefeated 26-year-old fighter has yet to address his withdrawal from UFC 296, which would have been the biggest fight of his career. Garry had hoped to use his bout against former training partner Luque as a stepping stone towards a potential title run in 2024. He expressed his desire to make a significant impact by stating, "When I beat Vicente, because Vicente is so well-rounded and respected, I want people to have that same feeling as when I beat Neil Magny."

Garry added, "If you add Danny Rodriguez, Neil Magny, and Vicente Luque to the start of any title run, that's a pretty impressive resume before you have even touched the rest of the top-ten or top-five in the division."

However, with his withdrawal from the event, Garry's plans will have to be put on hold as he focuses on his recovery from pneumonia.