Welterweight contender Ian Garry has signed with Matchroom Talent, the talent management agency owned by Eddie Hearn, following a similar deal made by Tom Aspinall. Hearn clarified that Matchroom will not conduct negotiations with UFC on Garry's behalf, as Garry has a separate team handling the UFC side of his affairs. Hearn described Garry as a potential superstar and noted the situation differs significantly from Aspinall's case.
Ian Garry has signed with Matchroom Talent, the management agency headed by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, in a deal confirmed on June 24, 2026.
Hearn moved to clarify the scope of the arrangement, stating that Matchroom Talent will not be involved in any negotiations with the UFC on Garry's behalf. The Irish welterweight contender already has a separate team in place to handle the contractual side of his fighting career. Hearn described Garry as a potential superstar, while acknowledging that the arrangement differs meaningfully from the one in place for Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall, the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, had previously signed with Matchroom Talent in a comparable deal. The 33-year-old Englishman out of Team Kaobon carries a 15-3-0 professional record and currently sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Standing six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach, Aspinall is one of the division's most dynamic performers, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent striking accuracy, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Matchroom Talent is expanding its footprint in MMA, having now signed two high-profile UFC names from England and Ireland.
- Hearn's explicit separation of management duties from UFC negotiation suggests a carefully structured arrangement designed to avoid promotional conflicts.
- Garry's alignment with a prominent agency signals a push to build his profile and commercial value beyond the cage ahead of what could be a significant stretch in his welterweight career.
