UFC 208 takes place at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York where the first ever UFC women’s featherweight champion will be crowned as former 135lb champion Holly Holm faces Dutch kickboxer Germaine de Randamie in Saturday night’s main event.
With little in the way of debutants or returning fighters in Brooklyn this week, UFC 208 is preferring to focus on big names however one or two fighters still show up on the SOSN radar this week.
Something Old at UFC 208
Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall (13-5-1) – Flyweight
Fighting for the first time since his January 2015 unanimous decision loss to John Lineker, Ian McCall’s bad luck with injuries and late call offs continued as original opponent Neil Seery pulled out due to a family bereavement leaving McCall to face newcomer Jarred Brooks in Brooklyn this weekend.
Having fought only four times since his double header with Demetrious Johnson in 2012 as part of the four-man tournament to crown the inaugural UFC flyweight Champion, “Uncle Creepy” has found it difficult to maintain relevancy and consistency while his own injury problems have plagued him.
After earning a draw in the first fight with “Mighty Mouse”, McCall would lose two fights in a row by unanimous decision in the rematch and against Joseph Benavidez but bounced back with a win over Illarde Santos and Brad Pickett before his injury problems began.
At the age of 32, time is running out for the ex-gang member to make a run at the Flyweight belt but he can get himself back on track by spoiling the party for the debut of the undefeated Brooks.
Ryan LaFlare (12-1) – Welterweight
With injury keeping him out of action since December 2015, Ryan LaFlare makes his return to the Octagon at UFC 208 in front of a hometown crowd for the first time as the New Yorker faces Roan Carneiro in the weekend’s preliminary bouts.
The welterweight first made his name in New Jersey-based promotion Ring of Combat going 6-0 and catching the attention of Strikeforce who signed up him.
Despite never fighting for the promotion, his contract was absorbed by the UFC after their Strikeforce purchase and wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio and Court McGee saw him rise through the rankings before suffering his first defeat at the hands of Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 62.
Bouncing back with a win over Mike Pierce in December 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter Finale 22, LaFlare was scheduled to face Alexander Yakovlev in 2016 before having to pull out with an undisclosed injury.
Now returning to fight in his homestate of New York for the first time since the ban was lifted, LaFlare would surely love to get the first finish of his UFC career in front of his friends and family.
Something New at UFC 208
Jarred “The Spider Monkey” Brooks (12-0) – Flyweight
Stepping in on short notice to replace Neil Seery, undefeated flyweight Jarred Brooks makes his UFC debut when he faces Ian McCall at UFC 208 in Brooklyn.
Already making waves with his attempts to build the fight up on social media, Brooks is a colourful character who has fought around the world in his short career. After success in the U.S. regional scene, he would grab a win over British hopeful Chris Miah in Russia at Grand Prix Akhmat 2016.
Most recently, Brooks would defeat fellow undefeated prospect Jun Nakamura by knockout at Pancrase 281 in October earning him his call-up to the big time.
Having fought at both strawweight and bantamweight as well as his preferred flyweight and with seven finishes in his twelve victories, Brooks will be a big test for the returning McCall and could make a big impact with a win over his veteran opponent.
