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Share on FacebookUFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry has taken his diet to the global stage by partnering with the animal rights organization PETA. The 28-year-old fighter, famously known as "The Future," is featured in a new video commercial titled "The Future Is Plant-Based," promoting the athletic benefits of a strict vegan lifestyle.
The timing of the promotional campaign is no coincidence. Garry is currently deep in training camp preparing for the biggest opportunity of his career—a world title showdown against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 on August 15 in Philadelphia. In the newly released PETA video, Garry explicitly credits animal-free foods for his rise through the mixed martial arts rankings. “Before I was plant-based, I was strong. But now, I’m on another level,” Garry says in the commercial. He explains that cutting out meat five years ago completely cured the immune system issues and frequent illnesses he suffered during intense weight cuts.
While Garry views the plant-based lifestyle as his ultimate competitive advantage for endurance and faster recovery, the commercial has sparked massive debate online. Combat sports fans across Instagram and X have flooded the comments, deeply divided over both the vegan messaging and PETA's controversial reputation. Nevertheless, if Garry secures a victory over Makhachev, he will make history not just as the first Irish UFC champion since Conor McGregor, but also as one of the very few elite fighters to win a world title on a purely plant-powered diet.
