Irish UFC star Ian Machado Garry is scheduled to face welterweight dark horse Vicente Luque at UFC 296 on December 16. UFC CEO Dana White made the fight announcement via social media on September 23.
No. 11 ranked Garry is coming from a statement win against welterweight mainstay Neil Magny, a fight in which he demonstrated tremendous striking, patience and game-planning. "The Future" is undefeated in 13 professional bouts, with six wins under the UFC banner.
No. 10 ranked Luque made a successful return to the octagon after suffering a brain bleed in his first-ever KO loss to Geoff Neal in August 2022, "The Silent Assassin" smothered Rafael Dos Anjos for a dominant UD victory, demonstrating his elite BJJ, granite chin and dangerous boxing.
ALSO READ: UFC Superstar Paddy Pimblett to Fight UFC Veteran at UFC 296 in December
This is a great fight for fans of fighters with dangerous kickboxing and tremendous submission skills. Garry boasts a notable edge in speed and size, whilst Luque brings a potent combination of power and technique required to cause an upset.
Luque's submission game stands out as one of his most formidable assets, he's one of very few UFC fighters - past and present - to finish two or more opponents with brabo or anaconda chokes.
The UFC is looking to close out the year with a bang, so far UFC 296 contains two title fights and a host of all-action matchups that are sure to set the arena on fire. Here's how the card looks at the moment (subject to change):
- #11 Vincente Luque vs. #12 Ian Machado Garry
- #6 Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. #7 Stephen Thompson
- Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett
- (C) Alexandre Pantoja vs. #4 Brandon Royval
- (C) Leon Edwards vs. #2 Colby Covington
More must-reads: