Conor McGregor is already looking beyond this weekend, and Ian Machado Garry is part of that picture.
At the UFC 329 press conference, McGregor said he would have no reservations about fighting Garry if Garry beats Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 on August 15. McGregor, who is set to face Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 this weekend, made it clear he is open to the idea of meeting Garry in the future.
McGregor leaves the door open
McGregor's comments were direct. If Garry gets past Makhachev in the welterweight title fight, McGregor said he is ready to take the matchup. He described Garry in a light, dismissive way while still signaling that the fight would not be a problem for him.
He also stressed that he is in a different place physically now. McGregor said he is a 175-pound fighter, noting that he has already held the 155-pound unified UFC world title. He added that he is open for business and wants activity, though he has ruled out a return to lightweight to challenge Justin Gaethje.
Why Garry's rise matters
Garry has been presented as part of a second wave of Irish MMA talent, and his comments reflect that bigger ambition. He said he wants to bring major UFC events back to Croke Park and Dublin, while calling himself the next superstar of Irish MMA. That kind of framing gives any future McGregor matchup extra weight, especially with both fighters tied to Irish MMA history and public attention.
Garry is also still chasing his first title shot in this scenario, so the McGregor fight talk remains hypothetical. But the timing is notable. If Garry wins the welterweight title against Makhachev at UFC 330, the possibility of a McGregor matchup becomes much more realistic.
What comes next
For now, McGregor's focus is on Holloway at UFC 329, while Garry's task is even bigger a few weeks later against Makhachev. If both men win, the future conversation around Conor McGregor and Ian Machado Garry could move from speculation to a real fight discussion.
