Ian Machado Garry, the Irish UFC welterweight contender often called “The Future,” has drawn nearly as much attention for his personal life as for his rapid rise in the cage. Fans and media frequently ask about the woman beside him and the unusual blended family arrangement that surrounds them. The answers center on sports presenter Layla Machado Garry, professionally known as Layla Anna-Lee, and her former husband, nutritionist Richard Cullen.
The couple’s story began in the MMA world. They connected around early 2021 while Garry was still competing in Cage Warriors and Layla was already an established television broadcaster covering combat sports and other major events. Their relationship became public that March. They got engaged later in 2021 and married in an intimate Las Vegas chapel ceremony on February 26, 2022. Their son, Leandro “Leo” Vegas Machado Garry, arrived in October of the same year.
You Might Like: Noel Miller’s Wife Aleena
Meet Layla Machado Garry
Layla was born on March 22, 1983, in London to a Brazilian mother and an English father of Irish and Scottish heritage. She trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and built a successful career as a sports broadcast journalist, working with outlets and organizations that include ESPN, UFC, FIFA, UEFA, NBC Sports, BT Sport, and others. In 2013, she appeared on FHM’s Sexiest Women in the World list. Years earlier, in 2010, she published a satirical book titled How to Be a WAG, which occasionally resurfaces online and draws commentary because of the couple’s age difference—roughly fourteen or fifteen years.
After marrying Ian, she became known as Layla Machado Garry. Ian added “Machado,” her maiden name from her mother’s side, to his own. He has explained that the change was made so his son and his stepson would share the same surname and feel connected as brothers. The decision has nothing to do with her former husband’s name, a point both Ian and Layla have repeatedly clarified when online rumors claimed otherwise.
The Role of Her Ex-Husband and Family Dynamics
Before meeting Ian Machado Garry, Layla Anna-Lee was married to Richard Cullen, a performance nutritionist. They share a son named Lucas. After the divorce, Cullen joined Ian’s team as his nutritionist. Ian has described the arrangement as practical and intentional: Cullen is highly skilled at weight cuts, and keeping him involved allows the older boy regular contact with his father while the family travels for fights and training. Both Ian and Layla have firmly denied claims that Cullen lives with them or that any improper dynamic exists. Layla has publicly called those stories lies, and Ian has emphasized that he does not want to come between a father and his son.
Also See: Is Sterling Point Gay?
The family has faced scrutiny and trash talk from other fighters over the years, much of it focused on the age gap, the name change, and the presence of the ex-husband on the team. Layla and Ian have addressed the rumors directly, stressing that their household is a blended one built around the children’s well-being rather than the gossip that surrounds them. As of 2026, Layla continues to support Ian through the biggest moments of his career, including his challenge for the UFC welterweight title.
In short, Ian Machado Garry’s wife is the accomplished sports presenter Layla Anna-Lee (now Layla Machado Garry). Her ex-husband, Richard Cullen, remains part of the professional support team for practical and family reasons. The couple’s choices—marriage, name, and parenting—have been explained clearly by both of them, even if online speculation has sometimes preferred a more dramatic version of events.
