Rory MacDonald has a very big fight coming up at UFC on Fox 8 against fellow top five-ranked welterweight Jake Ellenberger.
The winner will certainly enter the immediate discussion for a title shot against the winner of Georges St-Pierre and Johny Hendricks, who battle at UFC 167 later this year.
The issue with MacDonald possibly earning the shot is the fact that he is a teammate and close friend of St-Pierre’s at their shared home training facility in Montreal.
The subject of teammate fighting teammate has long been an issue in MMA, and has caused more than a few rifts between coaches, fighters and promotions.
MacDonald said most recently in May of this year when speaking to MMAFighting.com that he and St-Pierre would not face each other, but they did have some kind of arrangement in place if that time ever came.
We’re not fighting. Me and Georges are friends, we’re training partners. We’ll have our own arrangements and figure it all out when the time comes. It’s not going to come to us fighting. Friends, teammates, you know? We’re here to help each other.
On Tuesday, during a media conference call for UFC on Fox 8, the subject of St-Pierre came up to MacDonald again in another way. If MacDonald isn’t willing to face his teammate at welterweight, will he then be forced to choose between not fighting for the title, so long as St-Pierre remains champion, and potentially moving weight classes?
MacDonald’s answer was vague, but he didn’t close the door on any possibility—maybe even leaving a slight opening in the discussion about him facing St-Pierre.
I’m just kind of focused on this fight for now. My whole career’s kind of been go with the flow, everything changes after each fight. I’ll see where I am after this fight, and just the options from there. Nothing’s out of the question.
When a follow up to that statement came to UFC president Dana White, he answered with a little more certainty.
White stated in 2012, when the subject of St-Pierre vs. MacDonald came up, that he was certain the two teammates would eventually face off if the bout was for the UFC welterweight title.
His belief stems from the fact that every fighter in the world wants to be known as the best, and if going through St-Pierre is the way to get there, he’s sure MacDonald would take it. (via MMAWeekly.com)
Here’s what it always comes down, and we’ve had this conversation a million times, guys. Why are you in this? You’re in this to be the world champion. That’s what it’s about. It’s about winning, and becoming – see, everyone around the world knows GSP, and they love this guy. He makes s—t loads of money and the list goes on and on. Rory wants that. And it’s not like we’re setting up this fight where you’re going to fight and you’re going to have to hate each other after. This is the fight world. This is the world of fighting. Like I said the other day, I said this is the fight business, not the friend business. It’s not.
Despite MacDonald’s claims otherwise, White still hasn’t heard the young Canadian say to him that he would never fight St-Pierre.
It’s just not a subject that needs a discussion right now because they aren’t set to face each other.
I don’t think Rory ever said he wouldn’t fight GSP. Rory said he doesn’t want to talk about fighting GSP. I don’t think he’s ever said he won’t fight GSP. When that day comes, and he gets to that place where it’s time for GSP vs. Rory MacDonald I’m sure that’s when Rory MacDonald will want to talk about fighting GSP.
First up, however, is MacDonald trying to get past Jake Ellenberger at UFC on Fox 8.
If he’s victorious, there will undoubtedly be a slew of questions about St-Pierre because he just may stand tall as the new No. 1 welterweight contender.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted
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