Leon Edwards clears the air surrounding the speculation that he knocked out Ian Garry in a sparring session. The Welterweight Champion adds another layer to the ongoing drama in the life of the undefeated Irishman.
Talking about the knockout, Edwards stated, “I didn’t knock him out clean, no. He got a little taste (of the Kamaru Usman head kick) for sure”. The rumors about the knockout were fueled by Paddy Pimblett amidst the news that the Edwards had removed Garry from Team Renegade.
Pimblett told Sky Sports that a potential fight between Edwards and Garry is unnecessary: “Leon’s already knocked him out in training, so we don’t need to know about that [Garry vs. Edwards in the UFC]”. Garry also confirmed the knockout with his comments about “excruciating pain – shooting up from my face to my teeth”. He also praised the famous head kick of Leon Edwards on Instagram: “One of the best head kicks in the UFC – Yeah, I might have felt what that kick felt like”.
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Both fighters are in the Welterweight division and have an opportunity to set up a potential clash in the future if both win their fights in the upcoming UFC 296 on December 16. Ian Garry is set to face Vicente Luque on the undercard.
Meanwhile, Leon Edwards will defend his title in the main event against Colby Covington. Covington is expected to be fit for the fight even after earlier rumors speculated that the American fighter might pull out of the event.
Leon Edwards accused Ian Garry of a lack of contribution to the team’s culture
Leon Edwards and Ian Garry were in the headlines recently when the news broke out that the Welterweight champion had kicked out Garry from his Team Renegade gym in Birmingham, England. The Irish fighter is no longer allowed to train at the gym, which raised some eyebrows among MMA fans. Some speculated that the Irishman’s presence in the UFC welterweight division was one of the reasons.
Edwards cleared the air by accusing Gary of a lack of contribution to the team’s culture. The UFC champ explained, “There’s a culture in the gym that we’re trying to build. The difference with Ian [Garry] is that when he comes in, he brings his cameras with him, his girlfriend with him – he’s late to the sessions”.
Ian Garry has been told to not come back to Team Renegade, home to Leon Edwards
“Leon Edwards (and), his head coach (Dave Lovell) told me I’m not allowed to train there”
Garry had been told that “Leon doesn’t want any insecurities or doubts on his own gym”
via The Independent pic.twitter.com/DEeqU8HcTv
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) October 27, 2023
Edwards added that coaches and the team as a whole decided that Garry’s culture didn’t fit the culture of Team Renegade. He pointed out that once the culture starts slipping, the team breaks down. The news adds another black mark for Ian, who is struggling with online abuse due to the inner workings of his relationship with his wife, which has become a cause of concern for the Irishman.