Filed under: UFC
Ian McCall will make his UFC debut in March at UFC on FX 2 in Australia against recent UFC bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson. And as a representative of UFC’s new flyweight division, McCall (11-2) wants to introduce himself to fans in a dramatic way.
“I became No. 1 for a reason,” McCall said Monday on The MMA Hour. “I rededicated myself, I think that [135-pounders] don’t finish people enough. I’m a finisher. I can make it exciting. I can make it what people want to see. That’s one thing I can promise that people will be always be happy after I fight.”
McCall admits his first experience under the Zuffa banner was underwhelming. Fighting for the Zuffa-era WEC in 2007 and 2009, McCall compiled a 1-2 record with the promotion.
“I kinda blew it in the WEC,” the 27-year-old said. “I took it for granted. I didn’t work very hard.”
Since his last WEC fight, McCall has won four straight, including a win over Jussier da Silva to earn his No. 1 standing at flyweight.
Now, McCall will take on Johnson in the semifinals of an unofficial tournament to crown the first-ever UFC flyweight champion. Top contender Joseph Benavidez will take on 123-pound Shooto champ Yasuhiro Urushitani on the other side of the bracket.
McCall thinks Johnson is the ideal opponent to show what he’s all about.
“i really, really wanted this fight because he’s so talented,” McCall said. “And also because he’s riding so high and everyone is so stoked on him. I think it’s a good fight for me. I think I match up well — not only to win but to make it exciting. I like challenging myself. I don’t want to go in there and fight some random guy who sucks. I want to fight the best.”