Ian McCall’s time in the UFC didn’t start off the way he expected.
Entering the four-man tournament to crown the inaugural flyweight champion, McCall was considered the top 125-pound fighter on the planet, a reputation he earned through a series of victories under the Tachi Palace Fights banner.
Matched up with former bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson on one side of the bracket, many expected the man known as "Uncle Creepy" to advance to the finals and face consensus favourite Joseph Benavidez for the strap, but it wasn’t meant to be.
Twice.
The first time around, an error tabulating the scores following the third round resulted in the bout being declared a draw. Had the scores been figured out correctly, the fight would have gone to a sudden death round to determine who advanced and McCall would have entered carrying all the momentum after dominating Johnson during the third.
But it wasn’t meant to be and when they met for a second time three months later, "Mighty Mouse" cruised to a unanimous decision win before edging out Benavidez to become the first flyweight champion in UFC history.
Following their respective losses to the current champion, McCall was matched up with the Team Alpha Male fighter at UFC 156 and though he looked better, the Team Oyama representative still didn’t look like the fighter that went back-to-back-to-back against Jussier Formiga, Dustin Ortiz and Darrell Montague during a brilliant 3-0 year in 2011.
Life outside the cage hasn’t always been straightforward for McCall – he was pronounced dead due to a drug overdose in 2009, went through a public split with his ex-wife and was arrested prior to his bout with Benavidez. On top of all that, he has issues staying healthy as well, having been forced to withdraw from bouts with Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett due to injuries as well.
Even if he says otherwise, it’s clear to see in his most recent outings that all those elements had an impact on his performance.
He won a "get right" fight against Iliarde Santos at UFC 163, a bout that earned Fight of the Night honours and hinted at the elite skill set that had been absent from McCall’s first three UFC appearances. The aforementioned injuries followed and kept him out of the Octagon for over a year, but when he finally returned to face Pickett, UFC fans got their first full look at "Uncle Creepy" at his best.
Throughout the contest, McCall was one step ahead of the British veteran, staying light on his feet, using his speed to land shots while getting out of range before Pickett could return fire when they operated in space. In tight, he easily stuffed whatever takedown attempts were offered and countered with a few of his own for good measure.
He distanced himself as the fight went on too, maintaining his pace and widening his advantage with each passing minute en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Saturday in Uberlandia, Brazil, McCall steps into the Octagon with John Lineker in a battle that could very well determine the next title challenger in the 125-pound ranks.
At present, McCall (No. 3) and Lineker (No. 6) are the only two fighters in the top 8 that have yet to fight for the flyweight title, and with "Mighty Mouse" turning aside challengers with alarming quickness, a dominant performance from either side could put them in the cage with the champion in 2015.
While a third opportunity to find success against Johnson is certainly something McCall would like, he first needs to get through the hulking Brazilian, who has gone 5-2 after arriving in the UFC on a 13-fight winning streak in May 2012. Lineker is a powerful specimen for the flyweight ranks, but from a stylistic standpoint, Saturday’s co-main event is a quality matchup from the more dynamic, mobile McCall.
In the bout with Pickett, the popular Dana Point, Calif., native showed a keen ability to mix up his offence on the fly, timing body kicks and uppercuts as "One Punch" dipped in, completing takedowns when the opportunities appeared and continuing to circle throughout. The movement forced Pickett to try and close the distance, affording McCall the ability to find open angles and counter inside.
Though Lineker packs significantly more power than the 36-year-old Brit, he’s a fairly straightforward fighter, literally and figuratively. As soon as the fight commences, Lineker presses forward, heavy hands cocked and ready to fire. He’ll work both the head and body, but there isn’t a lot of variety in his approach and that predictability will create openings for McCall to change up his striking and ground "Hands of Stone" if he sees fit.
Should he pick up his third consecutive victory, it wouldn’t be surprising to see McCall get that coveted third opportunity to share the cage with Johnson. "Uncle Creepy" is one of the most popular fighters competing south of the lightweight division and his history with the champion makes for a compelling sales pitch.
That first fight being scored incorrectly may have changed the course of the flyweight division. McCall had all the momentum coming out of the third round, spending the final minute and change alternating between raining down blows from back mount and playing to the crowd. Had they gone to a winner-take-all fourth frame, the tattooed man with the best moustache in MMA likely would have earned the victory, setting up a championship showdown with Benavidez.
It didn’t play out that way and Johnson has more than proven himself to be the top dog in the weight class, but that doesn’t mean another meeting with a more focused, in-rhythm McCall is out of the question. After all, neither of McCall’s previous battles with Johnson came when the Matt Hume student was champion so a third encounter would still be the first time they’ve fought each other for the UFC title.
It has taken some time and a couple of setbacks, but McCall seems to have finally found his footing in the UFC. Now that he’s comfortable and competing at his best, don’t be surprised if "Uncle Creepy" makes a run at being the best flyweight in the world once again.