Again? Seriously? Illness forces Ian McCall out of UFC Fight Night 99 fight with Neil Seery

BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Lightning has indeed struck three times for Ian McCall.

The flyweight’s Saturday fight against Neil Seery at UFC Fight Night 99 has been scrapped. UFC officials confirmed the news to MMAjunkie at today’s early weigh-ins after McCall became ill.

McCall (13-5-1 MMA, 2-3-1 UFC) and Seery (16-12 MMA, 3-3 UFC) were set to close out the preliminary card of the evnet, which takes place Saturday at SSE Arena Belfast in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The entire event streams on UFC Fight Pass.

McCall, the No 9 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA flyweight rankings, has now had a fight scrapped on him a third time in a row. After fighting injuries, he was supposed to return in July at UFC 201, then at UFC 203. A botched weight cut by Justin Scoggins and illness to Ray Borg scrapped those opportunities.

Just this week, McCall told MMAjunkie Radio he could have his fight with Seery fall off – and he wouldn’t care.

“There is no pit in my stomach,” McCall told MMAjunkie Radio. “If he makes weight, or if he shows up, then he shows up. If he doesn’t, then I get paid again.”

The news could be crushing for Seery, who announced in the buildup to the fight that it would be his last before retirement.

“It’s all about Saturday night,” Seery told MMAjunkie on Thursday. “After that, we’ll pick up as it goes on. I’ll decide as I go along. But it’s all about Saturday night. I have a tough fight ahead of me. I’m in no way looking past Ian McCall. He’s a fantastic fighter, ranked No. 5 in the world (in the UFC rankings). I’m going to go out there (and) give my all to try and beat Ian McCall.”

It’s unclear if Seery will decide to give it one more go for his official retirement fight after today’s setback.

Stay tuned to MMAjunkie for more on this story as it develops.

For more on UFC Fight Night 99, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.