Ian Garry is making his return to the octagon this weekend — his first appearance after the dominant win over Neil Magny at UFC 292 last August. Garry, who signed with the UFC in 2021, has since established himself as a rising star in the welterweight division. For most of Garry’s UFC career, the spotlight has always been on him. However, in the buildup to his last fight, the 26-year-old’s wife, Layla Anna-Lee, was dragged into the equation by a number of fighters, including Sean Strickland and Colby Covington.
Garry was supposed to take on teammate Vicente Luque at UFC 296 toward the end of last year. However, a few days before the fight, Garry pulled out, stating that he had pneumonia. The lead up to the fight had become extremely personal for Garry as his wife Layla Anna-Lee was trolled relentlessly by fans as well as fighters
Who is Layla Anna-Lee?
Layla Anna-Lee is a 40-year-old TV presenter. She started off her career in front of the camera in 2008 hosting kid’s shows on Nickelodeon as well as interviewing A-List celebrities. Anna-Lee had her first international break when she was selected to be the female vocalist for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She was also the presenter at the Olympic beach volleyball tournament.
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Why was Garry’s wife slandered in the buildup to UFC 296?
A few weeks before UFC 296, a fan on Twitter exposed a book written by Anna-Lee a few years prior. The book titled, How To Be a WAG, was written in a satirical manner, she had claimed. However, the Fans cited the book while bashing the age difference between the Garry and Anna-Lee. The fighter is 14 years younger than his wife.
How did Garry meet Anna-Lee?
Garry and Anna-Lee met while she was working as a reporter during one of his UFC events. The pair hit it off and started to date each other. This quickly developed into a serious relationship and the couple tied the knot in February 2022. The wedding took place in Las Vegas.
What did UFC fighters say about the controversy?
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A number of UFC fighters, including Covington and Strickland, ripped into Garry. Among other things, they mocked Garry for taking his wife’s last name. They also mocked Anna-Lee for her book as well as marrying a man 14-years younger to him. In retaliation, Garry had made it publicly known that he wants to fight and brutally hurt both Strickland and Covington.
