Tag: Rory MacDonald

2019 PFL Championship: Welterweight winner Ray Cooper III

2019 PFL Championship: Welterweight winner Ray Cooper III

2019 PFL Championship: Welterweight winner Ray Cooper III

Rory MacDonald thinks Douglas Lima trilogy still possible: ‘Never know where our paths cross again’

Despite recently signing with PFL, Rory MacDonald still sees a trilogy with Bellator champ Douglas Lima as a possibility.

NEW YORK – The score isn’t settled between [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] and [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag], but MacDonald isn’t too concerned about it.

Having recently signed with PFL, former Bellator welterweight champion MacDonald (21-6-1 MMA, 3-2-1 BMMA) has split two fights with the current champ Lima (32-7 MMA, 14-3 BMMA).

In their first outing in January 2018, MacDonald took the 170-pound title from Lima by defeating him via unanimous decision. Then this past October at Bellator 232, Lima was able to avenge his loss and recapture the title by defeating MacDonald in the welterweight grand prix final.

That would be MacDonald’s final fight with the promotion, and while that could have left a bitter taste in his mouth, MacDonald still sees a potential trilogy happening down the line.

“It is what it is, you know?” MacDonald told MMA Junkie on Monday. “Who’s to say we won’t meet up later down the road? We’re not in the same organization at the moment, but I still see myself fighting for a long time, and maybe he is too. You never know where our paths cross again. I don’t worry about it too much. Competition, he won one, I won one, c’est la vie. On to the next.”

[lawrence-related id=476083,473166,472382]

MacDonald surprised many with his decision to sign with PFL, but ultimately he is happy with the choice he made.

“Bellator had the opportunity to, you know, not have me as a free agent,” MacDonald said. “But I think just between this organization and wanting to take the risk on free agency, there was discussion, and obviously Bellator, they had their interest. But when it came time that I was able to talk to other promotions, I wanted to play the field. I wanted to see what options were out there, and the best option out for me was PFL.”

[jwplayer rpumcnd0-RbnemIYZ]

Rory MacDonald loves idea of frequent fights with PFL: ‘I always crave being more active’

Potentially fighting five PFL bouts in 2020 is music to Rory MacDonald’s ears.

NEW YORK – [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] isn’t going to fight forever, and he knows it.

This is part of the reason why the Canadian standout, who is only 30 but has competed professionally since he was 16, is glad he’s now a part of the Professional Fighters League.

Should the former Bellator welterweight champion reach peak performance, he’ll compete five times in 2020: Twice in the regular season, and three times in the playoffs, including a $1 million championship fight at year’s end.

And at this stage of the game, this is music to MacDonald’s ears.

“I think my last year fighting and a couple others years fighting I was very busy,” MacDonald told MMA Junkie on Monday. “So, it’s something I’ve wanted to do because after my second fight with Robbie Lawler, I had this really bad nose injury, kept taking me out of fights.”

If you look at MacDonald’s career ledger, he fought twice apiece each year from 2009-2013, then once each year from 2015-2017.

“I had years in my career where I was benched,” he said. “And I got one fight a year, sometimes zero, maybe one or two, and I always crave being more active. So I think it comes at a really good time of my life to be in the cage more often, and it’s something I crave, to be active as a fighter.”

[lawrence-related id=476048,473166,472382]

And it’s not just staying active over the course of the year that has MacDonald excited. Assuming the PFL maintains the format it held over its first two seasons, if all went to plan, he’d fight the quarterfinals and semifinals on the same night, which delights his inner fight nerd.

“I never would have thought that would have came in this day and age of MMA, but it’s a great opportunity,” MacDonald said. “Kind of brings the old school back from the old PRIDE days. When I was a kid watching, they used to do tournaments in one night, in K-1 they do one-night tournaments, and I always thought it was amazing. It tests your strength and your character. So, I’m excited.”

So long as he handles his business in the cage, PFL’s format will allow MacDonald to progress in an orderly manner based on how he performs, not based on the whims of a promoter who might consider box office first and actual competition a distant second. And this, too, was a factor in making the jump.

“I’m excited to see who they bring in also to fight me for the next season,” MacDonald said. “That’s the exciting thing about PFL, you never really have the same bracket every year, so there is going to be some new blood. I’m excited, man. It’s going to be a great season.”

[jwplayer kcdJYbnh-RbnemIYZ]

MMA Junkie Radio #3012: Reaction to Bellator Hawaii doubleheader, UFC on ESPN+ 23

Hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” unpack a trifecta of major MMA events and react to the latest news and notes.

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On Episode No. 3,012 of the podcast, the guys unpack a trifecta of major events from the weekend, with Bellator 235 and 236 in Honolulu, as well as UFC on ESPN+ 23 in Busan, South Korea. The guys also react to the latest news and notes.

THE RUNDOWN:

  • The weekend got off to a bad start for Bellator, with former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Josh Barnett[/autotag] forced to withdraw hours before the Bellator 235 headliner because of illness. When and where should Barnett vs. Ronny Markes take place now?
  • At UFC on ESPN+ 23, [autotag]Chan Sung Jung[/autotag] took care of business in a big way with a first-round TKO finish of ex-lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Did “The Korean Zombie” do enough to shake up plans of title rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway? Are you warm to the idea of a No. 1 contender fight against [autotag]Zabit Magomedsharipov[/autotag]?
  • At Bellator 236, [autotag]Ilima-Lei Macfarlane[/autotag] retained her flyweight title with a dominant performance against Kate Jackson, and [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] advanced to the semifinals of the featherweight grand prix with a submission of Derek Campos. The guys weigh in on both outcomes and more from the card.
  • [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] gave an endorsement speech of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at a rally in Las Vegas. Pretty cool?
  • [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag], the Glory Kickboxing middleweight champion better known as the guy who knocked out Israel Adesanya, wants to fight MMA. Are you into it?
  • [autotag]Dillon Danis[/autotag] has his next fight lined up for Jan. 25 at Bellator 238. Is this guy a star for the promotion?
  • It sure does seem like [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] would rather fight [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] instead of receive a welterweight title shot vs. Kamaru Usman. Does this make sense?
  • Former Bellator champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] left the promotion to sign with PFL. Good or bad move for him?

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at AudioBoom, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

[jwplayer KRWGrkn5-RbnemIYZ]

Scott Coker: It would’ve been a ‘rough road’ if Rory MacDonald stayed in Bellator

Scott Coker is at peace with Rory MacDonald’s departure from Bellator.

HONOLULU – Scott Coker is at peace with [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag]’s departure from Bellator.

After former welterweight champion MacDonald (21-6-1 MMA, 3-2-1 BMMA) made a surprise free agency move to the PFL earlier this week, Coker spoke publicly about what happened for the first time.

In the immediate aftermath of MacDonald’s departure, Coker sent out a classy farewell over social media. MacDonald claimed he was never given a formal offer from Bellator to stick around, and while keeping the behind-the-scenes stories to himself, Coker did offer some perspective.

“I don’t want to get into negotiations and all that,” Coker told MMA Junkie on Friday after the ceremonial weigh-ins for Bellator 236 in Honolulu. “This is what I will say: At the end of the day, we keep the fighters that we want to keep. I think historically, we’ve been successful in that. If we want to keep you on the roster, we’ll find a way. Look, agents come into play, dollars come into play, and it’s a value proposition at some point. So to me, we just passed. We just said, ‘Hey, we wish you luck.’

“I think he’s a great guy and I don’t want to say anything about Rory other than we had some great fights here together, he was a great partner and now it’s time for him to move on.”

[lawrence-related id=472795,472382]

After a lengthy UFC stint that saw him unsuccessfully challenge for the title and take part in many big fights, MacDonald moved to Bellator in early 2017. He had six fights with the organization, won the 170-pound belt, and also fought for the middleweight strap.

The final chapter of MacDonald’s Bellator career saw him defend his title through the welterweight grand prix before he lost the belt to Douglas Lima in their $1 million title rematch at Bellator 232 in October.

It was MacDonald’s final Bellator bout. He became a free agent after he lost the belt and inked a deal with PFL. Coker said MacDonald fulfilled his contractual obligations.

“We had a certain amount of fights. We honored those fights. We honored what we said we were going to do,” Coker said. “I have no bad feelings, and honestly, I wish him well. It’s going to be a rough road here, too, for him. So I wish him well. He’s a great fighter and he was here when we really needed to have free agents. From the very beginning of Bellator when I came in, we signed some guys and he was willing to take the risk and come over. He’ll always be apart of the history of Bellator. It’s just time for him to fight somewhere else.”

[vertical-gallery id=455832]

Scott Coker discusses Rory MacDonald’s Bellator exit for PFL

Scott Coker discusses Rory MacDonald’s Bellator exit for PFL

Scott Coker discusses Rory MacDonald’s Bellator exit for PFL

Rory MacDonald signs with PFL: Why it works and why it doesn’t

A few reasons why PFL might not be the best fit for Rory MacDonald – but also why it could be perfect for him.

Former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC title challenger [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] made news this week when he became the most high profile name to sign with PFL.

MacDonald (21-6-1) has been an elite fighter for years, taking on the biggest names and fighting for championships across multiple promotions. The Canadian fighter’s decision to join PFL was a surprising to many, and immediately questions came up about whether it was the right move for him.

Here are a few reasons why PFL might not be the best fit for MacDonald – but also why it could be perfect for him.

* * * *

Why it doesn’t work

The fighting style doesn’t mesh

MacDonald has finished just one fight in the past five years, and it’s been more than eight years since he put someone away inside the first round. Given how heavily the PFL regular season format rewards stopping a fight as quickly as possible, that might not bode well for him.

If MacDonald wants good playoff position, he’ll need to take a lot more risks than we’ve seen from him over much of the past decade. The competition in PFL’s next welterweight season is almost certain to be a noted step down from what MacDonald faced in Bellator and the UFC, though, so perhaps that generates more convincing performances.

The physical demand could be too much

MacDonald has been a professional fighter since 2005 and has fought at least once a year since, with 2006 his busiest stretch as he fought four time. Then 2014 and 2019 were the only years he fought three times, and every other year was fewer. With the PFL schedule, MacDonald could be looking at five fights from May to December if he wants to win $1 million.

[lawrence-related id=472382]

After all these years in the fight game, can MacDonald’s body endure that much training and competition in such a short window? It’s a legitimate concern. And as we’ve seen over PFL’s first two seasons, the schedule doesn’t stop for anyone or anything. If MacDonald suffered an injury, that would be a significant blow to the organization’s welterweight season and investment in him.

There’s no certainty past 2020

The takeaway from many after MacDonald’s signing was that PFL was going all in on trying to ink big names for its 2020 season, which has potential to be its last. Next season will close out PFL’s two-year broadcast partnership with ESPN, and surely the company will look for a renewal and more beneficial financial terms. If nothing materializes, though, then the promotion – and all its athletes – could be in trouble.

Next page: Why it works

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Douglas Lima ‘little bit disappointed’ about Rory MacDonald’s Bellator exit, thankful for rivalry

A trilogy fight between Douglas Lima and Rory MacDonald is now off the table, but the Bellator champ said he’s taking it in stride.

[autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag] won’t get his trilogy bout with [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag], after all.

Bellator welterweight champion Lima (32-7 MMA, 14-3 UFC) said that, like many, he was thrown off guard when news broke Wednesday morning that MacDonald (21-6-1 MMA, 3-2-1 BMMA) had signed a deal to join PFL, marking the end of his six-fight stint with Bellator.

After splitting results over two meetings, Lima said he thought the trilogy with MacDonald was going to happen in the “very near future.” But then, just the same as everyone else, he learned the two no longer shared the same roster.

“I’m a little bit disappointed,” Lima told MMA Junkie. “It definitely did surprise me. It was unexpected. We had a close first fight, second one was a little better, but not as exciting. I thought we were going to do the third fight. But whatever. I got the belt. That’s what I wanted. It wasn’t about revenge or anything. I just wanted my title.”

Lima regained the 170-pound title he lost to MacDonald when he took a unanimous decision at Bellator 232 in October. The fight took place 21 months after the initial matchup at Bellator 192, which saw MacDonald edge out a razor-thin unanimous decision in a thrilling contest.

[lawrence-related id=465419,457572]

It was that first meeting, and the resulting loss, that signified a turning point for Lima, he said. It revealed some significant hurdles the Brazilian needed to overcome to meet his full potential, and he said his growth has shown in going 3-0 since. For that knowledge, Lima said he can’t be anything but grateful to MacDonald.

“The first fight is what changed me the most,” Lima said. “It was so close, it was a battle. So much more things I could’ve done, but I didn’t because of a mental block that I had there. But you learn from fighting, and it kind of changed me and it helped me so much. I definitely learned a lot more from fighting him than anyone else in the first fight. I showed that through the tournament, then I beat him in the rematch. You learn something from everyone in every fight, but Rory was the most, for sure.

“I have to be thankful for him. He taught me a lot in our first fight. I’m never going to forget that. It really helped me in my career just being in the cage with him all that time. But it’s over now. That chapter is closed.”

Given Lima has beaten most of the top welterweights in Bellator, he said losing out on a high-profile trilogy fight like MacDonald is definitely a bit frustrating. Lima said he hopes to be back to action in March, either defending his title or possibly moving up to fight at middleweight. Meanwhile, MacDonald has moved on, but Lima will always hold their rivalry close, and said he will be keeping tabs on the Canadian moving forward.

“Good for him, I think he’s going to do good wherever he goes,” Lima said. “I’m sure he’s being very well taken care of. Being a champion in Bellator, and what he did in the UFC, I look forward to watching him there for sure.”

[vertical-gallery id=457096]

Ex-UFC, Bellator fighter Rory MacDonald signs multi-fight deal with PFL

Rory MacDonald has signed with PFL and will compete in next season’s welterweight tournament for a chance to win $1 million dollars.

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] is headed to the PFL.

Former Bellator welterweight champion and former UFC welterweight title challenger MacDonald (21-6-1) has signed an exclusive multi-fight deal with PFL, MMA Junkie confirmed with promotion officials following an initial report from ESPN.

MacDonald will enter the PFL’s 2020 welterweight season and compete for a chance to win the $1 million prize awarded to the winner.

In his last outing in October, MacDonald lost his 170-pound title in the Bellator welterweight world Grand Prix final to Douglas Lima, the man he defeated to claim the title in January 2018. It was the final fight of MacDonald’s contract.

During his Bellator tenure, MacDonald also attempted to capture a second title but fell short in a second-round TKO loss to then Bellator middleweight champ Gegard Mousasi.

[vertical-gallery id=455832]