UFC 268: Ian Garry knocks out Jordan Williams, and channels Conor McGregor in electrifying Octagon debut
- The 23-year-old Irish prospect gets an impressive first-round TKO, justifying comparisons to former two division champ
- ‘We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over,’ Garry says, borrowing line from McGregor
Ian “The Future” Garry has long been compared to former two-division UFC champion and fellow Irishman Conor McGregor.
After his first-round knockout of Jordan Williams on the undercard of Saturday night’s UFC 268 card inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden, those comparisons seem more valid than ever.
The fight with Williams was a first in the UFC Octagon for 23-year-old Irish welterweight Garry (8-0) – the same crucible where McGregor was forged into the sport’s biggest star. The similarities between his and McGregor’s debuts were difficult to ignore.
McGregor (22-6), who debuted in 2013, shut the lights out on Marcus Brimage just 1:07 into the first round. Garry needed a little longer, and also absorbed a few big shots from Williams in the early going, but also managed to get it done in the opening round, finishing his foe with a sizzling left hand and a volley of follow-up strikes at the 4:59 mark.
Perhaps the most obvious parallel between McGregor and Garry‘s debuts, however, was their post-fight interviews. Garry actually borrowed one of McGregor’s most famous speeches, as he spoke to commentator Daniel Cormier in the Octagon.
