Trouble started between UFC welterweight fighters Joaquin Buckley and Ian Machado Garry at the ceremonial weigh-ins for a UFC Fight Night at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on April 25 2025. Buckley walked up from the crowd, where Garry’s wife, Layla, and their child were sitting, causing a tense moment. Layla later gave their child to Garry on stage, but security stopped any physical trouble. The incident led to harsh words, with Buckley speaking out at a media scrum on April 26 and Garry hitting back at the post-fight press conference after his unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates.
Buckley took aim at Garry’s demeanor.
“The reason why he doesn’t understand me is because I don’t speak ‘Cuck-anese,’” he said. “You understand? So I can understand why he didn’t understand me the first time. But when I was out there, and he doing his weigh-ins, I’m not trying to get into his head and nothing like that, but when you talk like that, don’t act like when you see me like I’m invisible. You talk about me. You saying my name? Holla at me. Let me know something.”
He added, “But you know, his girl very protective, protecting her man. Shit, using the baby like a shield, whatever. But I really wanted to see what Ian Garry’s about and just what he had to say to me in person and he was real quiet.” Buckley clarified, “Nothing happened. His girl was touching on my arm and stuff like that, caressing my arm, I don’t know what all that was about. I feel like security, they’ve got to do their job, because they just never know how fighters are going to react, so shout out to them, but for me, I just want to promote and have a conversation, because if we’re really going to get down, let’s get paid for it at the end of the day.” h/t MMAFighitng
Garry dismissed Buckley at the press conference.
“That man is an absolute pssy,” he said. “I don’t care for anything he has to say. Leave him to be him. Let’s move on.”
He later added, “There was no incident with me at the weigh-ins with Joaquin. I didn’t fcking see him.”
A Rivalry Grows Amid Kansas City Spotlight
The event drew 15,984 fans and a $2.2 million gate, setting a T-Mobile Center record, per ESPN. Garry, ranked No. 7 in welterweight, improved to 16-1, landing 104 significant strikes at 51% accuracy and securing 3 takedowns for a 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 decision over Prates, who fell to 21-7. Prates nearly turned the fight with a fifth-round flurry.
Buckley, ranked No. 6, holds a 21-6 record with 15 knockouts and 46% significant strike accuracy, riding a six-fight win streak after a TKO over Colby Covington in December 2024. The card also featured Zhang Mingyang’s first-round TKO over Anthony Smith, who retired.
Garry is the backup for UFC 315’s welterweight title bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.
No fight between Buckley and Garry is scheduled, but their Kansas City clash has fans eager for a potential showdown. Both fighters continue their climb toward the welterweight title, with their rivalry adding heat to the division.
