Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight Ian McCall was supposed to be the next big thing at 125 pounds, but in three trips to the Octagon, he's failed to register a win.
Not only has he lost to the current division champion, Demetrious Johnson, he's also come up short against what many people believe to be the number two guy in his weight class, Joseph Benavidez.
That means he's on the long road back to a title shot and hasn't even left his driveway.
"Uncle Creepy" blames his recent lack of focus on his turbulent year. After getting arrested by "stupid cops" last summer (details here), McCall suffered through "manorexia" during a painful split from his wife (more on that here).
But he's in a much better place now, according to his conversation with Knockout Radio (via MMA Weekly):
"I'm in a much better place. You know, I've kind of blown my UFC career so far, but now it's time to earn what's rightfully mine. I've always been physically ready. Every fight, I've always been in shape. I've always been there. Just for me it's a mental thing because I can be a head case and that really has been what's gotten me down in the past, but I took personal steps in my personal life, new relationships, new whatever it may be to just change for the better. I really am just happier and in a much better place than I can really ever remember, which is nice. I haven't earned (expletive). [Prelims is] probably where I deserve to be. Some people can look at it as a slap in the face not being on the main card, but who cares who I've fought and where I ‘ve been on previous cards? There are some big names that deserve to be there and I'm just ready to earn it. That's my outlook on everything. I like earning things. I like being the good dog that gets petted. I want to earn this title shot and my first step to do that is by knocking this guy out. I was dropping the ball. I wasn't focused. I had flashes of brilliance, but that's all done now and I'm excited to move forward and prove myself. I was brought in as No. 1. I was supposed to be something special and I haven't really shown that yet. I have to go out there and just do work. I've got to stop having so much fun getting punched in the face and I've got to punch people back."
The proof is in the pudding.
McCall (11-4-1) has a chance to turn around his professional life, as well, when he takes on longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Iliarde Santos at the upcoming UFC 163: "Aldo vs. Korean Zombie" pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Aug. 3, 2013 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Is he truly "something special" as originally billed? We'll find out in less than two weeks.
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