Ian McCall ill, out of UFN 56 co-main
With flyweight contender Ian McCall taking ill after Friday’s weigh-ins in Brazil, he has been forced to withdraw from his UFN 56 co-main event against John Lineker.
Ian McCall did everything right leading up to the UFC Fight Night 56 co-main event fight with John Lineker. He trained hard, trash talked enthusiastically and amusingly, and made weight.
Then he came down with an infection.
UFC president Dana White made the first announcement, and it was on the UG in under a minute.
Dana White @danawhite 53 seconds ago
Looking like Ian McCall is sick and might not be able to fight tonight.
McCall went briefly to the hospital, given antibiotics, and was released.
Early Saturday morning the bad news came via UFC.com.
With flyweight contender Ian McCall taking ill after Friday’s weigh-ins in Uberlandia, Brazil, he has been forced to withdraw from his UFC Fight Night co-main event against John Lineker.
In a text message to Ariel Helwani, “Uncle Creepy” provided some further details.
“Bacterial infection in my blood,” he wrote. “My body just failed me after the weigh-ins.”
“UFC blood tested me a few weeks ago and it showed I had a slight infection. I just figured I’d work through it. I’m in such great shape and am so healthy I didn’t think it would affect me like this.
“Since getting to Brazil, I’ve had a fever and only slept one to hours a night.”
“I’m very sorry about how all this happened, especially to John. We both needed this fight for so many reasons. We still do. Hopefully the UFC grants me another opportunity.”
There was unfortunately no time for a replacement. The FOX Sports 1 event will now proceed with 10 bouts.
A resigned Lineker, who will receive his show money, spoke with John Morgan for MMAJunkie, and made the case for a title shot even without the win. It is however more likely that the fight is simply put off for a period of time.
I think it was going to be a great fight, said Lineker. I know Ian and I have gone back and forth a little before this fight, but I do respect him as a fighter. I know I was going to knock him out, but I think we were going to put on a great show until he went to sleep.
I’m 5-1 in my past six fights, and four of those wins are by knockout. The only guy I lost to (Ali Bagautinov) tested positive for EPO in his next fight. Are we supposed to believe that was the first time he ever used PEDs? I doubt it.
So as far as I’m concerned, the only guy I’ve lost to in my past six fights is a dirty fighter. John Dodson is hurt. Joseph Benavidez had his chance. Now it’s my turn.
If I have to fight Ian McCall, I’ll fight Ian McCall. I just don’t want him wasting my time again, and I want him to come back to Brazil so we can do this in front of the Brazilian fans, as it was supposed to be.
Demetrious Johnson hasn’t fought since September, and he needs a new contender. I’ll fight him anywhere, anytime. Otherwise, I think the UFC is coming back to Brazil in February. If it’s going to be Ian McCall, let’s do it then, and hopefully this time he can wait until Saturday night to enjoy our health care.
Main Card (FOX Sports 1, 10:30 p.m. ET)
Mauricio Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Warlley Alves vs. Alan Jouban
Leon Edwards vs. Claudio Silva
Dhiego Lima vs. Jorge Oliveira
Nina Ansaroff vs. Juliana Lima
Prelim Card (FOX Sports 2, 8 p.m. ET)
Diego Rivas vs. Rodolfo Rubio
Caio Magalhaes vs. Trevor Smith
Charlie Brenneman vs. Leandro Silva
Thomas Almeida vs. Tim Gorman
Prelim Card (UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET)
Colby Covington vs. Wagner Silva