Ian Machado Garry Joins Matchroom's Talent Agency

Ian Machado Garry is heading into the biggest fight of his career with a new commercial partner — and the choice of partner is unlikely to go unnoticed by Dana White.

The UFC welterweight number one contender has signed with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency ahead of his August 15 title fight against Islam Makhachev in Philadelphia. The arrangement covers marketing and commercial interests only, with Vayner Sports retaining responsibility for his management and UFC contract negotiations.

"Congratulations Matchroom Talent Agency you've signed the future. Alongside Vayner Sports, I'll be joining The Matchroom Talent Agency — who will now work across my commercial interests," Garry

The distinction between Garry's arrangement and Tom Aspinall's is significant. Aspinall signed with Hearn for full career representation, a decision that triggered a public standoff with Dana White and has left the undisputed heavyweight champion's return timeline entangled in a contract dispute that remains unresolved. Garry's deal is narrower — Hearn handles the commercial side, Vayner Sports handles the fighting business, and the UFC contract negotiations stay entirely separate from anything Matchroom touches.

Hearn and White have been locked in a feud since the launch of Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, a promotional venture that immediately targeted Matchroom's fighters — most notably Conor Benn, who signed with Zuffa Boxing in a move Hearn took as a direct provocation. Hearn's response was to sign Aspinall.

Garry called himself the future when announcing the signing. If he beats Makhachev at UFC 330, the commercial value that Hearn is now attached to increases significantly. The timing, from Matchroom's perspective, is not accidental.