Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ian Machado Garry (red gloves) fights Michael Page (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Ian Garry Reveals Looking At Framed Photo That “Burns His Soul” Everyday

Ian Garry reveals the soul crushing photograph he sees every morning that fuels the fire in his heart and motivates him!

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ian Machado Garry (red gloves) fights Michael Page (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Losing hurts, especially when you have never tasted defeat before. For UFC welterweight Ian Garry, his first professional loss came at UFC 310 against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. The Irishman had been riding high on a 15-fight winning streak since 2019. He was the golden boy with the perfect record and championship aspirations. And then Rakhmonov happened.

Now, as Garry prepares for his comeback fight against Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City on April 26, 2025, he is taking a rather unusual approach to motivation. Most fighters try to forget their losses but not Garry.

Also Read: Despite Huge Loss, Diego Lopes Sends His Regards to UFC 314 Opponent

The Soul-Burning Reminder

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani on the Ariel Helwani Show, the Irishman revealed something surprising about his daily routine. He has framed a photo of himself on Rakhmonov’s back in the fifth round of their fight. The picture hangs in his bedroom, ensuring it’s the first thing he sees every morning. When asked about his mindset heading into his upcoming fight, Garry got fired up immediately.

“I kind of wanted to get it and show you, but I framed it in my bedroom, me on Shavkat’s back in the 5th round. So that every day when I get out of bed, I see that and it burns my soul.”

"I framed, in my bedroom, me on Shavkat's back in the 1st round so that every day I get up out of bed, I see that fucking thing and it burns my soul." – @IanGarryMMA pic.twitter.com/8POZAeGuhN
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 14, 2025

👀 Shavkat looking at the camera while almost getting choked out by Ian. pic.twitter.com/ecna42Gn3O
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 8, 2024

The interviewer, naturally curious about this unusual motivational tactic, asked him why he would torture himself this way. Garry’s answer revealed the method to his madness. He revealed that the photo reminds him to become the best version of himself not just for those who support him, but also to prove wrong those who want to see him fail.

The Double Disappointment

The loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov wasn’t Garry’s only recent setback. When Rakhmonov had to withdraw from a title fight against Belal Muhammad due to injury, Garry expected to be the replacement. Instead, the UFC chose Jack Della Maddalena, who hadn’t fought in over a year.

🚨🚨 BANGER ALERT

🇮🇪 IAN GARRY 🆚 CARLOS PRATES 🇧🇷

📆 : 26 Avril pic.twitter.com/cWvhvdqRtp
— ARENA (@MMArena_) April 1, 2025

The snub has added another chip to Garry’s shoulder. But maybe that is exactly what he needs. The UFC’s welterweight division is packed with killers, and Garry must now climb back up the mountain the hard way. His fight against Carlos Prates represents a fresh start and a chance to rebuild. The fire in his belly seems hotter than ever, fueled by that soul-burning photo. As they say in fighting, it is not about how many times you get knocked down, it is about how many times you get back up. And Garry is definitely getting up with a vengeance!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Carlos Prates

Ian Garry

Shavkat Rakhmonov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!