UFC on FX 3: Johnson vs. McCall LowKick.com Staff Predictions
Anton Gurevich: It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments Uncle Creepy and Demetrius Johnson made since their first encounter inside the Octagon. In my opinion, there’s no Flyweight on the planet who can deliver a dominant performance against Demetrious Johnson, yet, I think Ian McCall has more tools as a fighter, and could grind out a decision victory. It’s a tough fight to call, and there’s absolutely no way we are going to see a finish in this one. This one will go to distance, but fans will enjoy every moment of it. My prediction is Ian McCall via Decision.
Bryan Fontez: Johnson vs McCall will be no different than the first time around. They are two of the flyweight divisions best who can keep the fight in 5th gear from bell to bell. Unfortunately, it isn’t bad enough that we can’t trust the poor and inaccurate judging, because even when they get it right, the guy adding up all the points can still screw up EVERYTHING. Pay me his salary and I can guarantee you I’d never screw up doing basic grade two math. As I said, this one will end up the same… Fast, hard and close. Although this time I predict Ian McCall Wins Via Unanimous Decision
Daniel Cassidy: Just like in the last bout, I’m picking Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall to defeat Demtrious Johnson. Despite a slow start in their first encounter, McCall in my eyes, won the latter two rounds, looking like a long time UFC veteran. Possessing great hands coupled with his ground skills, I expect him to defeat “Mighty Mouse” convincingly. My pick is Ian McCall via Decision.
Mike Drahota: Not a ton of people are talking about this matchup, but it will be good to see a Flyweight champion get crowned when this rivalry is finished. The bout will be surrounded in controversy due to the judging error in the their previous match. Both Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson have great pace and heart, and both are focused on the goal at hand. With that said, I think that McCall is a force in the Flyweight Division, moving up through the ranks with a well-rounded game. I see him coming in a bit sharper than last time, namely in the striking department. Johnson is no doubt a game fighter who once went the distance with Dominick Cruz, but look for McCall to win a split decision here.
Mike Searson: It is the oldest play in the fight game’s bag of tricks: the rematch. When McCall and Johnson clashed in March their bout won “Fight of the night”. The fight was initially announced incorrectly as a split decision win for Johnson. That always makes a rematch more personal, when it’s a close decision or in this case tabulation error by the judges. Johnson has the speed, but McCall definitely has the power and better standup, in my opinion. I have a feeling this one is going to go to McCall by TKO in the third round.
Evan Holober: I’ve been thinking about this one all month, and I’m going with Johnson. McCall is the bigger/stronger guy, but I think he lacks something in game-planning. He either could have finished “Mighty Mouse” in the third, or at least poured on enough punishment to take an easy 10-8 round (which he might have already got). However, he played to the crowd and I think his over confidence in the rematch will come back to haunt him. I see it as a reverse from the first match, and Johnson winning the wrestling to take a tough decision. Johnson by Decision.
