Vicente Luque and Ian Machado Garry are set to face off in the octagon at UFC 296, affirming their friendship will remain intact regardless of the outcome, with a backstory of Garry owing Luque a meal due to a submission during a training session.
Vicente Luque and Ian Machado Garry are set to face off in the octagon at UFC 296 on Dec. 16. While there’s a lot riding on the fight, the two have made it clear that’s all it is – a fight. Having trained together at Kill Cliff FC in Florida, they maintain a cordial relationship. According to Luque, the partnership will remain unaffected, regardless of the Las Vegas outcome.
The welterweight fighters have publicized their friendly banter, sharing an audio clip in which they agreed to the match. Interestingly, Garry’s final comment was about “owing food afterward because of that submission.” According to Luque, this is a reference to a training incident where Garry dryly commented if he got submitted, he would owe Luque lunch. Owing to his love for Brazilian food, Garry agreed to the challenge. As it turned out, Luque ended up submitting Garry in their competitive session and now seeks to do so at the fight to win himself two dinners.
Fellow UFC welterweights Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, and Shavkat Rakhmonov also train at Florida’s Kill Cliff FC, so Vicente Luque knew facing a sparring partner was inevitable. Though he stated he’d never fight “Durinho,” he welcomes combat with the rest. Concuring to confront Garry was “somewhat challenging” as he had to consult with Henry Hooft first, given the latter’s previous coaching involvement with both fighters. Luque believes that the nature of his training changes, but subtly, when he’s preparing with someone who could be a potential opponent.
For Luque and Garry, the match isn’t personal. Luque has a deep respect for his opponents, understanding that they undergo similar trials. So, come Dec. 16, they will fight, not out of animosity, but to offer each other a fair challenge. Garry is noted for his six UFC victories, and Luque feels a win over him could bring him closer to the welterweight belt. He views defeating a “hyped fighter” like Garry, much like his triumph over Rafael dos Anjos, as a valuable leap towards his goal.