Issue 112
March 2014
UFC flyweight Ian McCall explains why he’s not cool, and why he’s better than you at driving fast
Q&A
Q. THE BEST EVER MATCHUP IN MMA HISTORY?
A. “It’s hard to say, but I definitely think one of the greatest fights ever was Dan Henderson and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua (UFC 139, 2011). But there have been so many great fights, it’s hard to just pick one.”
Q. YOUR BEST MOMENT IN MMA?
A. “Winning the Tachi Palace flyweight title was a huge thing for me.”
Q. WHAT’S THE BEST THING A FAN HAS EVER SAID TO YOU?
A. “It’s nice when people say my story has helped them get through issues in their own life. A lot of guys who went through the same sort of stuff I went through have told me that before.”
Q. THE BEST THING NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT YOU?
A. “I’m a good driver, I can drive a car really fast very well. I used to rally race at an amateur level, but I’m still pretty damn good in a car.”
Q. BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO A YOUNGER YOU?
A. “Don’t do it (laughs). Stop whatever you’re doing.”
Q. BEST INSPIRATION TO FIGHT?
A. “Just the fight itself is inspiration for me, I don’t really need anything else to get me going.”
Q. BEST THING ABOUT MMA COMPARED TO ANY OTHER SPORT?
A. “It’s the ultimate test of manliness (laughs), but technically, we’re the toughest kids on the block and I think that’s cool.”
Q. WHAT FEELS BEST, A KNOCKOUT OR A SUBMISSION VICTORY?
A. “A knockout.”
Q. BEST OPPONENT?
A. “I’d say the best person I’ve ever fought was Demetrious Johnson.”
Q. BEST WAY TO GET PUMPED BEFORE A FIGHT?
A. “Believe it or not, relaxation is the best way to get pumped before a fight.”
Q. BEST CARTOON CHARACTER RESEMBLANCE?
A. “Apparently I look like the guy from Rocky and Bullwinkle (Boris Badenov), but I can’t remember his name. I’ll say I look like Dick Dastardly.”
Q. BEST DINNER GUESTS? THREE PEOPLE PAST OR PRESENT.
A. “I’d probably have Gandhi and Jesus, and then I’d have to have somebody to pick on, so I’d probably pick Adolf Hitler. Every dinner party should include someone there to pick on and someone you can throw a beating
on afterwards.”
Q. BEST SMACK TALK YOU’VE HEARD?
A. “(Laughs) I think when Chael Sonnen was talking about Brazilians and how they used to blow darts.That was hilarious.”
Q. BEST GUILTY PLEASURE?
A. “Krispy Kremes.”
Q. BEST MEMORIES FROM YOUR FIRST FIGHT?
A. “I remember my first fight being pretty fun, I didn’t realize I was in a fight until I got punched in the face by a grown man (laughs). I was 18 years old at the time, and it was all fun and games until I realized that it was for real.”
Q. BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
A. “That would have to be, ‘Hands up, chin down,’ or, ‘You’re not that cool, no one is.’”
Q. BEST LIFE LESSON?
A. “Again, I would say learning that no one is ever really as cool as they think they are. I think that people who are famous or quasi-famous usually think that they’re better than people and think they’re way too cool. I definitely am not.”
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