McCall joins Rizin FF bantamweight grand prix after UFC exit
Ian McCall has taken his talents across the Pacific.
One week after he announced the UFC granted him his release, the longtime flyweight contender has joined Rizin FF's bantamweight grand prix as a wild card.
He'll debut with the Japanese outfit Dec. 29 against 23-year-old Manel Kape, with whom he shared an intense staredown Monday morning:
期待を裏切らなさすぎる"実写版ブライアン・ホーク"🇦🇴マネル・ケイプ。
— クイール@格闘技ニュース (@QueelJp) October 16, 2017
この日も準々決勝で対戦するイアン・マッコールを相手に乱闘騒ぎを起こしています。
マッコールについては「3分でKOする。こんな楽な金稼ぎはない」と相変わらずの調子です。 pic.twitter.com/E8Rwifi7pB
McCall will aim to end a layoff dating back to January 2015 with his first bantamweight bout in over seven years, having seen six bookings opposite five opponents fall through for a variety of reasons, with several getting scrapped at the 11th hour. The 33-year-old last fell to John Lineker by unanimous decision at UFC 183.
He meets a fighter 10 years his junior in Kape - who's won five straight and all but one of eight pro bouts - at Rizin FF 8 in Saitama.
Also competing on the bill is McCall's fellow UFC flyweight alum Kyoji Horiguchi, whose opponent for the quarterfinals hasn't been announced.