Rory MacDonald has some notes.
Set to challenge UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler July 11 at UFC 189, MacDonald says he’s excited to have more time to work inside the Octagon.
MacDonald lost a three-round split decision to Lawler at UFC 167 in 2013 and hopes he’ll avoid going to judges given the championship rounds.
“I always enjoy longer fights,” MacDonald told The Fight Network. “I don’t like going to decision. Fighting guys this high level, you need more than 15 minutes. I always appreciate staying in the cage a big longer. That’s going to be a lot nicer.”
MacDonald would even be in favor of fighting without time limits, harkening back to the early days of the UFC.
The last UFC event without time limits was UFC 4 back in December of 1994, although only the eight-man tournament final between Royce Gracie and Dan Severn went over 15 minutes. Gracie submitted Severn with a triangle choke 15:49 into the match.
UFC 5 was the first event for the promotion featuring time limits. 20 and 30 minutes limits were used depending on the round of the tournament.
“I’d like that,” MacDonald said of fighting without time limits. “It doesn’t play into fan-friendly things because guys get tired and it can drag on. You’ve seen that in the older UFC’s with those rules. But yea, I’m a purist kind of guy. I like knees to the head on the ground, kicks to the head on the ground, headbutts. I think those are all really good tools for human body weapons. I think those are important.”
While he has no problem with MMA’s current unified ruleset, MacDonald says he’d change the sport drastically if he had his way.
“It changes the positions completely,” said MacDonald. “We saw [former UFC heavyweight champion] Mark Coleman in the early days dominate with headbutts from the guard. It would change the guard position. Four points would change because of knees to the head on the ground. Standing over your opponent would change with kicks to the head on the ground. The whole concept, the positions that people are used to seeing in the UFC would change drastically if those were the rules.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘It’s completely ridiculous.’ WSOF has pulled Melvin Guillard from his co-main event fight with Ozzy Dugulubgov because he was not able to present his medicals to the organization in a timely fashion.
Monday Morning Analyst. Luke Thomas breaks down the techniques from UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs. Mendes, GLORY 20 and more.
Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Chad Mendes, Al Iaquinta, Jorge Masvidal, Julianna Pena and Dustin Poirier move forward following UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs. Mendes.
Do over. Cat Zingano says she ‘wouldn’t change a thing’ about her approach to the Ronda Rousey fight. ‘Had it been a couple inches in the other direction, it could have gone a completely different way.’
‘New gold standard.’ UFC hires BALCO investigator Jeff Novitzky to oversee its drug testing program. ‘I am thrilled to be joining a world-class organization like UFC, that is committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure all of its athletes are competing in a clean sport.’
Watch The MMA Hour with Forrest Griffin & Stephan Bonnar, Cat Zingano, Al Iaquinta, Julianna Pena, Jimi Manuwa, Artem Lobov and John Gooden.
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Rampage Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva.
Highlights from Legacy 41.
Rafael Cordeiro picks Donald Cerrone over Khabib Nurmagomedov and says he’ll get the most out of Shogun Rua.
Pro wrestling fan apologizes to Al Iaquinta for booing him.
Shannon Knapp talks Invicta’s relationship with UFC.
Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz see how much they don’t know about each other.
Long watches.
Fight Night Krakow: Stories from Poland [with Dan Hardy] (Complete version of what I posted last week)
…
Knuckle Up #371: UFC Fairfax + the Robbery of 2015
…
TWEETS
Business.
2 years today I am here. Highest ratings: FOX and Fight Pass. Gate records in every venue. Best 1/4 in UFC history. pic.twitter.com/1VuBn0nW1o
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2015
$16.3million dollars collected at the gate alone. I couldn’t be humble even if I tried.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2015
Know your numbers. Mine is Number 1.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 6, 2015
Back at it.
Back @allstars_gym https://t.co/UapPter5sJ
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) April 6, 2015
Back to work! Strength of will Find a way Or make one …And stand by it @MusclePharm pic.twitter.com/e4M25i4v25
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) April 6, 2015
Good luck.
The official cut to 205 begins today. Food ?? @Onnit ?? Diet ??whose coming with me? Let do this #FighterandtheKidArmy #BrownKnightRises
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) April 6, 2015
OK.
UFC’s hiring Jeff Novitzky shows it is finally ready to try to curb PED use http://t.co/xTV5Tww04j @ufc #mma Conte predicts lots of + tests
— Victor Conte (@VictorConte) April 7, 2015
Hey everyone I’m doing an AMA on @reddit Today at 6pm/PT
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 6, 2015
Agree?
Has anyone seen Cain Velasquez!? I’m about to put him on a Milk Carton! #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 6, 2015
What’s going on with the champs Mighty Mouse , Dilashaw or Lawler. I’m kinda of tired of hearing about Rousey, McGregor & WWE … #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 6, 2015
Check it out.
“I don’t react well when people try to take from me” #InFocus #Bellator136 https://t.co/oNDhudJwYn
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) April 7, 2015
Damn.
The neck of people saying Ireland has a drinking problem ha pic.twitter.com/I7igoAovJU
— Neil 2 Tap Seery (@NeilSeeryMMA) April 6, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (April 6 2015)
Francimar Barroso vs. Ryan Jimmo at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
Tom Breese vs. Luiz Dutra at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
Melvin Guillard out, Ozzy Dugulubgov vs. Lucas Montoya at WSOF 20
Nick Hein vs. Lukasz Sajewski at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.