UFC on FX II – Ian McCall vs Demetrious Johnson

This is the semi-final I am most excited about. McCall is currently ranked as the number one flyweight in the world and Johnson just fought Cruz for the bantamweight crown in his last fight.

Ian McCall was first seen in the WEC, where he beat journeyman Coty “Ox” Wheeler before getting dumped on his head via german release suplex and choked out by Charlie Valencia. He would make one more WEC appearance, losing to Dominick Cruz via decision. But he really turned his career around at Tachi Palace Fights, where he beat Jussier da Silva. By beating “Formiga”, surviving being outgrappled in the first to rally back and win the last two rounds, he became the number one ranked flyweight in the world. He would beat Dustin Ortiz and Darrell Montague back to back, finishing off Montague with a rear naked choke. McCall has awesome striking, as stylized as his great mustache. Really good wrestling and he’s really active on the ground, whether it’s ground and pound or submissions.

Demetrious Johnson started his WEC career at the Aldo vs Faber PPV, where he got outwrestled by Brad Pickett. He bounced back by beating Nick Pace with his wrestling and slamming him around like a rag doll. He tapped out Damacio Page in a neat fight and outwrestled Kid Yamamoto with ease. He had a close fight with Miguel Angel Torres, one in which Torres did threaten with his guard and sweeps. Johnson then lost to Cruz in a fight that had Cruz adapting and outwrestling him to retain his bantamweight crown. Johnson has fantastic wrestling, some of the fastest wrestling takedowns you’ll see in the UFC will come from him. He has fast hands as well, he’s just a really quick fighter all around and he has Matt Hume in his corner.

I think McCall is the better striker and submission grappler, but Johnson does have really great wrestling. Johnson might be able to use his wrestling to get an advantage over McCall. If it stays on its feet, I give McCall an advantage. This should be a really close fight, should be interesting.