Exclusive Ian Machado Garry to face Geoff Neal at UFC 292 in Boston

Ireland's Ian Machado Garry will look to extended his undefeated mixed martial arts record on Saturday, 19 August at Boston's TD Garden when he faces eighth-ranked welterweight contender Geoff Neal at UFC 292.

UFC confirmed the booking to RTÉ Sport on Wednesday.

Garry (12-0-0) has put together a stellar run since joining the Dana White promotion, claiming victory in five straight bouts since his debut in November 2021, which took place at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden venue.

The Malahide man is considered one of the best prospects in the sport and put forth his most impressive performance to date in his last outing, finishing celebrated slugger Daniel Rodriguez in the first round of their clash to earn himself a place among the 170-pound elite.

The victory saw Garry become the first Irish fighter since Conor McGregor to score five consecutive wins in the Octagon.

Neal (15-5-0), now in his fifth year with the UFC, will be Garry's sternest test to date.

The American has claimed wins over a number of celebrated welterweights, including Belal Muhammad, Mike Perry, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and most recently, Vicente Luque - a team-mate of Garry’s - who he stopped in the third round of their meeting in August.

In his last visit to the Octagon in March, Neal gave one of the best up-and-coming fighters on the UFC’s roster, Shavkat Rakhmonov, the toughest test of his promotional tenure before being submitted in the third round.

With a win, the Dubliner will likely solidify his place among the UFC’s top-10 welterweights.

Boston’s TD Garden has been a great venue for Irish MMA in the past.

Back in January 2015, the home of the Boston Celtics hosted Conor McGregor's stoppage of Denis Siver, with Cathal Pendred and Paddy Holohan scoring