Ian Garry and Michael Morales have privately agreed to fight each other, with screenshots of their direct message exchange made public by Morales. In the messages, Garry proposed Saudi Arabia on November 28 as the date and location, with Morales confirming he would sign a contract. An unofficial Fight Night event in Saudi Arabia is believed to be scheduled for December 5, one week later than the date Garry suggested.
Screenshots of a private direct message exchange between welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Michael Morales surfaced publicly on September 21, suggesting the two fighters have informally agreed to meet in the cage — though no official bout agreement has been announced.
According to the messages, which Morales made public, Garry proposed Saudi Arabia on November 28 as the target date and location. Morales replied confirming he would sign a contract. Whether that conversation translates into a sanctioned bout remains to be seen. Adding a wrinkle to the timeline, an unofficial Fight Night event in Saudi Arabia is believed to be scheduled for December 5 — a full week after the date Garry floated in the exchange.
Morales enters this reported matchup as one of the welterweight division's most compelling unbeaten prospects. The 27-year-old Ecuadorian, ranked third at 170 pounds and training out of Entram Gym, carries a perfect 19-0-0 record. Standing six feet tall with a 79-inch reach, he is an active and accurate striker, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He also supplements his offense with roughly one takedown per 15 minutes.
Garry's verified statistics were not available in the confirmed data for this report, but his role in initiating the exchange — and his standing as an established welterweight name — frames this as a potential marquee matchup in a division that remains wide open.
Why it matters
- Morales is currently ranked third in the welterweight division and undefeated, making any opponent he faces a high-stakes assignment
- A fight of this profile in Saudi Arabia would fit the UFC's expanding international event calendar
- The one-week gap between Garry's proposed date and the rumored event date leaves logistics unresolved and raises questions about whether a formal offer is imminent
- Until contracts are signed and the UFC announces the bout, the agreement exists only as a social media exchange
