Although Rory MacDonald issued a one-sided beating on BJ Penn during their bout at UFC on FOX 5, the Tristar Gym talent earned some critics in Seattle.
MacDonald peppered the UFC legend with combinations and sharp kicks over three rounds, nearly stopping Penn on the feet. However, the Canadian drew criticism from those who thought he was purposely dragging on the match to make a point.
But to make matters worse, MacDonald is also being accused of verbally taunting Penn and doing the “Ali Shuffle” for added insult.
But when MMAInterviews.TV‘s Spencer Lazara asked Rory Mac about his tactics during the fight, MacDonald claimed that nothing Penn said in the buildup changed his game plan at all:
Lazara: I know [Penn] had said that you were a “bulldozer” and that you didn’t have the technique. ‘That something that really bothered you, that you wanted to go out there and showcase?
MacDonald: No, I just fought the way I fought. His words didn’t change anything. I’m sure now he has a different opinion on my technique, but y’know—it’s cool.
Additionally, Lazara asked MacDonald about what he said to Penn during the fight, likely referring to some occurrences when both fighters were in the clinch during Round 3:
Lazara: There were some times [when] you were saying a couple times to him during the fight…
MacDonald: No, no I wasn’t. That’s one thing [I saw] when I was watching the fight. They said that I was talking to [Penn], but I never said one word to him.
Trash-talking or not, footwork, grappling and striking more than spoke for “Ares” during his 14th career win and fourth straight victory.
MacDonald will return to action at UFC 158 against Carlos Condit, whom he challenged to a rematch from their bout at UFC 155. Citing that he was “embarrassed” in defeat, MacDonald narrowly lost that fight via a comeback TKO in the third and final round with just three seconds left on the clock.
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