Ian McCall: I am getting paid twice to beat up somebody that I know I can beat
Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall is set to take on Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson this Friday night for another semi-final fight in the UFC’s flyweight tournament. Their original March fight was mired in controversy as a judge miscalculated and ruled the fight in Johnson’s favor. It should have gone to a sudden victory round. The two fighters are going to throw-down to see which one will face Joseph “Beefcake” Benavidez for the inaugural UFC flyweight championship.
A decision like that is bound to raise anyone’s ire, but McCall seems to be taking it in good spirits for the most part, he told Carlin Bardsley of MMASucka: “It is annoying to a point. I think it’s gotten to both of us, I definitely know it’s gotten to him. I mean he talks about how much he hates my mustache and he wanted to punch a baby with a mustache or something weird like that. It obviously takes a toll on you, but at the same time I’m getting paid twice to beat up somebody that I know I can beat, so I can’t really complain about it.”
In McCall’s favor is the fact that he should know Johnson’s strengths and weaknesses. There really has not been enough time between fights for either fighter to drastically change strategies. McCall should have an idea for what is in store for him: “I knew he was fast. Actually, I was surprised that he wasn’t as strong as I expected him to be. I was surprised in my favor. I don’t see him changing or getting any better at anything within three months. I think he showed me everything he has to offer.”
McCall’s confidence and easy-going nature is a by-product of what life has thrown at him. A fighter like McCall does not get stressed by the thought hearing that cage door lock behind him and staring down another man who is dead set on tearing his head off. McCall is one of those fighters who finds peace inside the cage. He looks at it purely as an opportunity to match his skills with another one of his peers who is one of the best there is: “I’ve been through a lot in my life and nothing really bothers me. Especially when I’m focused, I’m nice and mellow. I’ve spent a lot of my life being amped up and crazy – just causing trouble. I guess a piece of that comes out of me when I fight. I get off on the attention, I get off on imposing my will and trying to hurt somebody. I hate to sound weird, but I have issues. I fight for a living and I clearly enjoy punching someone in the face. I’ve pushed the limits pretty far in my life. I died from a drug overdose and was brought back, I’ve crashed cars at high speeds, I put myself in a coma snowboarding. I’ve done a lot of ridiculous things and I look at is this way – I’m on borrowed time. I’m here obviously for a reason and there is no point getting worked up over silly things.”
Will McCall’s focus and concentration be enough for him tomorrow night whene he steps in the cage to take one step closer to being the UFC’s first flyweight champion?
