UFC star Ian Garry’s wife, 40, hits back at trolls calling her a gold digger – after they spotted her 2010 book ‘How to be a WAG’ – as she defends relationship with her new husband, 26, having previously married his nutritionist

Ian Garry’s wife has responded to online backlash she received for writing a book on how to date athletes more than a decade ago.

The UFC star and his partner, Layla Anna-Lee, have been the center of debate in the MMA world this past week after online users brought up “How to Be a WAG.”

Many suggested that Anna-Lee’s ‘book’ was essentially a guide for gold diggers and also pointed out that the 40-year-old is 14 years older than Garry.

However, Anna-Lee, who works as a TV sports presenter, responded to the backlash on Instagram last week with a fiery statement.

Take to her Instagram story, she said, “I wrote a book called ‘How to be a WAG.’ Now, that statement itself is a bit of an exaggeration. I can hardly call myself the author of an eleven-page audible-only satire story written in 2010.

Layla Anna-Lee responded on Instagram to comments on a 2010 book

Anna-Lee, 40, has been married to UFC star Ian Garry since February last year

Anna-Lee was criticized after her book titled ‘How to be a WAG’ resurfaced on social media

‘That context is crucial, because that was during the World Cup, when I worked at OK and at various tabloid magazines. We were making this hilarious satire looking at wives and girlfriends in football.

‘If you listen to it, that satirical book is really silly and anyone who takes it as fact has completely missed the point.

‘It was a great success at the time. We hit it off, it was funny and people got the joke.”

On Amazonreads the description of the book: ‘How to Become a WAG – The Ultimate Guide to Catching the Man of Your Dreams!

‘The best new career option is to become a WAG, and we’re here to tell you how you can become part of the most prestigious Wives and Girlfriends (WAGs) club.

‘Have you ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of people like Victoria Beckham, Cheryl Cole or Coleen Rooney? This guide contains everything you need to know!’

In the Instagram post, Anna-Lee also sarcastically said: ‘Looking at the hate and the majority of the clips and the comments I get, age is without a doubt the biggest thing I did wrong.

“I’ve gotten older, and I have birthdays every year, and that’s fucking disgusting, especially from a woman. Getting older is not acceptable. I’m fucking up there.’

Rumors also circulated online suggesting Anna-Lee’s ex-husband Richard Cullen, who also works as Garry’s nutritionist, was still living with the couple.

However, Anna-Lee also addressed that rumor and quickly debunked it.

“Some bulls*** things people have said [is] that my ex-husband lives with us. No he does not! And no, he never did that. You’re just making that up.

Garry and Anna-Lee regularly share photos of their travels on social media

Anna-Lee and Cullen married in 2014 but split shortly afterwards. She then married Garry in February 2022 before having a child in October.

The ongoing debates and rumors led to UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland urging Garry to leave Anna-Lee, before sharing photos of a heated conversation with the Irishman.

After Strickland posted the video to Instagram, Garry sent him a direct message urging him to “delete” the video and suggesting he was “spreading hate.”

Strickland fired back at Garry and told him to sue me, before later sharing the heated encounter on his Instagram story.