The UFC welterweight contender is set to challenge grappling wizard J.T. Torres at Metamoris 5 in Long Beach on Nov. 22, and Torres wants to ruin MacDonald’s perfect year.
Torres, who fought to a draw with Victor Estima at Metamoris 2, wasn’t expecting to face MacDonald at the upcoming Metamoris event.
“I was a little surprised when Metamoris offered me to compete against Rory,” Torres told MMAFighting.com, “but I was 100 percent down for it.”
With a 9-2 UFC record, including wins over jiu-jitsu black belts B.J. Penn, Demian Maia and Nate Diaz, MacDonald hasn’t competed in grappling tournaments in a while, and that’s why Torres believes his ground game is in another level.
However, MacDonald’s size advantage can play a big factor Saturday night.
“I wasn’t surprised (MacDonald took the fight), to be honest with you, because he is a high level athlete himself, who happens to have a black belt in BJJ as well,” Torres said. “To be honest, I really do not know what to really think of his BJJ other than that he is a solid black belt.
“I don’t think his level of technicality in BJJ can be compared to my level, but his 20-30 pound size advantage over me can even things out during the match.”
MacDonald is currently riding a three-fight winning streak inside the Octagon, and his victory over Demian Maia taught Torres a few things about MacDonald’s grappling skills.
“Absolutely,” he said of the MacDonald-Maia bout in February, “I was able to see a glimpse of his ground game in that fight which has helped me develop a few lines of attack.”
Former World BJJ Nogi champion Torres wants to make his MMA debut “one day soon,” and a win over a UFC contender, even in grappling competition, would be huge for his future plans.
“I have always had an interest in MMA and I for sure plan to fight in the near future,” Torres said. “Regardless of this match, I will definitely be making my MMA debut one day soon.
“I think a submission win over Rory will help me get my name out there to the MMA fans, so when I go ahead decided to make that MMA debut I will a solid following.”
The UFC welterweight contender is set to challenge grappling wizard J.T. Torres at Metamoris 5 in Long Beach on Nov. 22, and Torres wants to ruin MacDonald’s perfect year.
Torres, who fought to a draw with Victor Estima at Metamoris 2, wasn’t expecting to face MacDonald at the upcoming Metamoris event.
“I was a little surprised when Metamoris offered me to compete against Rory,” Torres told MMAFighting.com, “but I was 100 percent down for it.”
With a 9-2 UFC record, including wins over jiu-jitsu black belts B.J. Penn, Demian Maia and Nate Diaz, MacDonald hasn’t competed in grappling tournaments in a while, and that’s why Torres believes his ground game is in another level.
However, MacDonald’s size advantage can play a big factor Saturday night.
“I wasn’t surprised (MacDonald took the fight), to be honest with you, because he is a high level athlete himself, who happens to have a black belt in BJJ as well,” Torres said. “To be honest, I really do not know what to really think of his BJJ other than that he is a solid black belt.
“I don’t think his level of technicality in BJJ can be compared to my level, but his 20-30 pound size advantage over me can even things out during the match.”
MacDonald is currently riding a three-fight winning streak inside the Octagon, and his victory over Demian Maia taught Torres a few things about MacDonald’s grappling skills.
“Absolutely,” he said of the MacDonald-Maia bout in February, “I was able to see a glimpse of his ground game in that fight which has helped me develop a few lines of attack.”
Former World BJJ Nogi champion Torres wants to make his MMA debut “one day soon,” and a win over a UFC contender, even in grappling competition, would be huge for his future plans.
“I have always had an interest in MMA and I for sure plan to fight in the near future,” Torres said. “Regardless of this match, I will definitely be making my MMA debut one day soon.
“I think a submission win over Rory will help me get my name out there to the MMA fans, so when I go ahead decided to make that MMA debut I will a solid following.”
