Ian Gregory McCall (born July 5, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions of several prominent MMA promotions, including Ultimate Fighting Championship, Rizin Fighting Federation and World Extreme Cagefighting. He is also a former TPF Flyweight Champion. In between his fights in January 2015 and December 2017, he had been booked for six consecutive cancelled fights, four of which were cancelled during the week of.
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Background
McCall was born in Costa Mesa, California and has an older brother, Bradley McCall. McCall got into many "fights" growing up and in his youth, he practiced kung fu. He competed in wrestling for Dana Hills High School where he was a standout and then continued later at Cuesta College, before dropping out to a knee injury. He was also known to fight kids at the town center. Often striking kids for no reason besides being a bully. He was also a part of a gang called the Lords of South County, where the gang would regularly start fights with random people, usually multiple people beating up one unsuspecting person. A few of them were charged for crimes, like former UFC fighter Rob Emerson, but Ian McCall escaped without charges. During one encounter, McCall attempted an uppercut against an unsuspecting person, but was countered with a right cross and knocked unconscious. During another scuffle, McCall actually punched a lady in the face but he claims he thought she was a man.
Mixed martial arts career
World Extreme Cagefighting
In his WEC tenure, McCall defeated Coty Wheeler and lost to Charlie Valencia in 2007. McCall returned in 2009, but lost to Dominick Cruz.
Tachi Palace Fights
In February, McCall signed a deal with the California-based promotion, Tachi Palace Fights. Ian's first fight was against Jussier Formiga, who at the time was ranked as the #1 Flyweight in the world. McCall upset Formiga with a unanimous decision victory.
On May 6, 2011, McCall then defeated previously unbeaten prospect Dustin Ortiz at Tachi Palace Fights 9, setting up an August 5, 2011 championship bout with the TPF Flyweight Champion Darrell Montague at TPF 10: Tachi Palace Fights 10. He won the title by submitting Montague in round 3 with a rear naked choke.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
McCall signed with the UFC in December 2011 to compete in a four-man Flyweight Tournament to determine the inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion. He faced Demetrious Johnson in the opening round of the tournament on March 3, 2012, at UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann. Johnson was initially thought to have defeated McCall by majority decision, though was later revealed that a scoring error had taken place and a majority draw was the correct result. This fight was the first flyweight bout in UFC history.
A rematch with Johnson took place on June 8, 2012, at UFC on FX 3 to determine who would meet Joseph Benavidez in the finals of the flyweight tournament. McCall lost the bout via unanimous decision.
McCall was briefly linked to a bout with promotional newcomer John Moraga on August 4, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera. However, McCall was forced out of the bout with an issue with police and replaced by Ulysses Gomez.
McCall next faced Joseph Benavidez on February 2, 2013, at UFC 156. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
McCall faced Iliarde Santos on August 3, 2013, at UFC 163. He won the fight via unanimous decision, earning his first UFC win. The fight also earned him his second Fight of the Night bonus award.
McCall was slated to face Scott Jorgensen on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9, but was ruled out of the bout due to injury.
McCall was expected to face Brad Pickett on March 8 at UFC Fight Night 37 in London, England. However, on 13 February, it was announced that McCall had pulled out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Neil Seery.
The rescheduled bout with Pickett took place on July 19, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 46. McCall won the bout by unanimous decision, having out struck Pickett across three rounds, while displaying strong takedowns and effective ground and pound.
Rizin Fighting Federation
On October 16, 2017, it was announced that McCall had signed with Japan's Rizin Fighting Federation.
McCall's debut was against Manel Kape, as part of Rizin's 2017 Bantamweight World Grand Prix. He lost the fight in the first round by doctor's stoppage due to a cut from the ring ropes.
For his second fight for the promotion, McCall faced fellow UFC veteran Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event at Rizin 10 on May 6, 2018. He lost the fight via knockout just nine seconds into the first round.
Retirement
On May 21, 2018, McCall announced his retirement during The MMA Hour podcast.
Professional grappling career
McCall competed against Mike John at Subversiv 10 on April 13, 2024. He lost the match by submission.
Personal life
McCall has a young daughter and a stepson.
In a 2012 interview with Ariel Helwani, McCall stated that during a hiatus after his last fight in the WEC he overdosed on a combination of oxycodone, GHB, Xanax and other tranquilizers. He awoke two days later in a hospital and later found out his breathing and heartbeat had both stopped. He was revived and recovered to full health within a matter of weeks.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Demetrious Johnson and Iliarde Santos
First Flyweight to headline a UFC Event with Demetrious Johnson
Tachi Palace Fights
TPF Flyweight Championship (One time)
Sherdog
2011 Comeback Fighter of the Year
2011 All-Violence First Team