IRELAND’S IAN MACHADO Garry will return to the Octagon for a career-altering test against eighth-ranked welterweight Geoff Neal at UFC 292 in Boston.

Dubliner Garry, 12-0 in professional MMA (5-0 in the UFC), produced a career-best display last time out, disposing of Daniel Rodgriguez inside a round. The 25-year-old will step up to the fringes of championship level against Neal (15-5) on 19 August.

American Neal has beaten several vaunted welters including, most recently, Garry’s teammate Vicente Luque whom he stopped in three rounds last August.

In his most recent fight in March, Neal, 32, gave one of the UFC’s leading prospects, Shavkat Rakhmonov, the toughest test of his career before being submitted in the third round.

A win for Malahide man Garry would most likely see him enter the UFC’s top-10 rankings at 170 pounds.