Former UFC and Bellator MMA welterweight standout Rory MacDonald will make his PFL regular season debut opposite fellow UFC export Curtis Millender on April 29 in Atlantic City, NJ, after original opponent David Michaud withdrew due to heart problems.
While MacDonald was high atop Millender’s list of dream matchups earlier in his MMA career, these days “Red King” is just another top-name welterweight standing between “Curtious” and the promotion’s $1 million prize.
“Fighting him is cool, but the million dollars is why I agreed to sign with PFL,” Millender told BJPenn.com. “I can also right a lot of wrongs if I beat him. I know I’m one of the top welterweights in the world still. I’m looking to get some more respect on my name. It’s also frustrating to see guys like Kevin Holland and Max Griffin headline and be the co-main event of a UFC show when I beat both of those guys. Like how am I not there? I deserve to be considered one of the best and that’s what I plan to prove.”
Millender (18-6) parted ways with UFC back in early 2019 after losing back-to-back fights to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Belal Muhammad. What followed was a 1-1 stint for Bellator MMA and a recent loss to fellow UFC export Sabah Homasi.
As for MacDonald, the 21-6-1 “Red King” is coming off a decision loss to Douglas Lima and had a less than spectacular run for Bellator MMA, putting together a 3-2 mark with one draw. He also flirted with retirement after losing his passion for combat sports.
PFL 2 airs this Thurs. night on ESPN2.