For Now Rory MacDonald Plans on Facing Gracie in June

Rory MacDonald might have made some worrisome comments after fighting to a majority draw at Bellator 220. However, he says he fully believed he would be advancing to face Neiman Gracie in New York in June before Saturday night. In keeping his title, Ma…

Rory MacDonald might have made some worrisome comments after fighting to a majority draw at Bellator 220. However, he says he fully believed he would be advancing to face Neiman Gracie in New York in June before Saturday night. In keeping his title, MacDonald advances in the Welterweight Grand Prix but the way he was […]

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Rory MacDonald Will Fight Neiman Gracie, But Future Still Uncertain

Rory MacDonald will fight Neiman Gracie in the next round of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix, but will that be “The Red King’s” last fight? According to MacDonald, it’s too early to tell. “I can’t really give a definitive answer (about my future),” MacDonald said after keeping his belt in a controversial draw against Jon […]

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Rory MacDonald will fight Neiman Gracie in the next round of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix, but will that be “The Red King’s” last fight?

According to MacDonald, it’s too early to tell.

“I can’t really give a definitive answer (about my future),” MacDonald said after keeping his belt in a controversial draw against Jon Fitch at Saturday’s Bellator 220 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif (via MMAJunkie). “It’s an hour after the experience. But I’m going to sit back, I’m going to pray, and I’m going to see what God has in store for me, see what doors open up. But my plans right now are to go to the next stage and compete against Neiman (Gracie).”

MacDonald retained his title even though his fight with Jon Fitch was ruled a majority draw. The crowd did not like that as Fitch is from the San Jose area. MacDonald himself seemed surprised when Bellator President Scott Coker handed him the belt.

The champion then went on to publicly question whether or not he has “that same drive to hurt people anymore.”

“I was expressing what I felt in my heart, what I was going through,” he said. “I was trying to be honest,” MacDonald said of his post-fight comments.

MacDonald said this 10-week fight camp was different in that he made an even more intense connection with God. He believes that likely had something to do with his recent change of heart.

“I think it has something to do with it because I do believe God has another chapter in my life,” he told MMA Junkie. “I don’t feel like I’m just going to be a fighter and that’s it. I feel like as I move forward and closer to God, he’s got something else in store for me, and that’s really exciting for me because I can feel it in my heart.”

As for the fight. MacDonald thought he did enough to get his hand raised but in this crazy sport you just never know. Still, the “Red King” thought there was a chance he could lose.

“When it’s a judge’s decision to call the fight, you never know,” he said. “You can win five rounds and lose a judges’ decision.”

So MacDonald will fight at least one more time against Gracie so long as the champ’s faith doesn’t get in the way of sport. But in typical MacDonald fashion, he left us with a cryptic message.

“There is another door opening on the horizon,” he said. “When that is and what it is, I don’t know. But we’ll see.”

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Neiman Gracie Calls ‘Bulls*it’ On Rory MacDonald’s Bellator 220 Post-Fight Revelation

Neiman Gracie isn’t sold on Rory MacDonald’s post-fight Bellator 220 speech. Last night (April 27), MacDonald defended his welterweight gold against Jon Fitch in the final opening round match in the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. T…

Neiman Gracie isn’t sold on Rory MacDonald’s post-fight Bellator 220 speech. Last night (April 27), MacDonald defended his welterweight gold against Jon Fitch in the final opening round match in the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. The bout went the distance and was ruled a majority draw by the judges. Since MacDonald remains the 170-pound […]

The post Neiman Gracie Calls ‘Bulls*it’ On Rory MacDonald’s Bellator 220 Post-Fight Revelation appeared first on MMA News.

Neiman Gracie Locked In On Gold Ahead Of Bellator 222 (Interview)

Neiman Gracie plans to shine on a grand stage in the city that never sleeps. Gracie is scheduled to compete in the second round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. He’s set to meet the winner of Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch, which is a…

Neiman Gracie plans to shine on a grand stage in the city that never sleeps. Gracie is scheduled to compete in the second round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. He’s set to meet the winner of Rory MacDonald vs. Jon Fitch, which is a title bout. If all goes according to plan, then […]

The post Neiman Gracie Locked In On Gold Ahead Of Bellator 222 (Interview) appeared first on MMA News.

Bellator 213 Highlights: Neiman Gracie Submits Ed Ruth

Another fight has been completed in the opening round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. Earlier tonight (Dec. 15), Neiman Gracie and Ed Ruth did battle in a bout featuring two undefeated 170-pounders. The winner would be guaranteed a title…

Another fight has been completed in the opening round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. Earlier tonight (Dec. 15), Neiman Gracie and Ed Ruth did battle in a bout featuring two undefeated 170-pounders. The winner would be guaranteed a title bout in round two of the tournament, as he’d be going one-on-one with the […]

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Bellator Reveals Opening Round Of Welterweight Grand Prix

The Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix bracket is official.

The post Bellator Reveals Opening Round Of Welterweight Grand Prix appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

The Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix tournament bracket is officially set and will kick off at Bellator 206 on September 29, 2018.

Earlier today (Aug. 6, 2018) Bellator announced the bracket seedings for the welterweight GP via Instagram. But the news didn’t stop there, as they announced Paul Daley as one of the eight men involved in the tournament.

Daley’s participation was in question due to his ongoing contract issues with the promotion, but now that is all squared away, Daley is in.

The bracket breaks down as such:

One one side of the bracket Michael “Venom” Page (13-0) will take on fellow Brit Paul “Semtex” Daley (40-16-2) in a grudge match years in the making. Joining them on that side of the bracket are two former champions in Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (29-7) and Andrey “The Spartan” Koreshkov (21-2).

On the other side of the bracket waits reigning welterweight champion Rory “Red King” MacDonald (20-4) defending his belt against Jon Fitch (31-7-1). The winner of that bout will take on either Neiman Gracie (8-0) or fellow unbeaten prospect “EZ” Ed Ruth (6-0).

It seems Scott Coker has thought this Grand Prix out well after all this isn’t his first rodeo. Yaroslav Amasov (20-0) will fight Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin (19-7) with the winner earning the coveted alternate spot should one of the eight participants be unable to compete. It should be noted that reigning UFC double champ Daniel “DC” Cormier won the Strikeforce heavyweight GP as an alternate.

All fights are expected to be five-round affairs regardless of where and when they take place on the card. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this tournament is that the welterweight title will be up for grabs a total of three times. So, in theory, we could see a new 170-pound champion be crowned three more times in 2018.

The welterweight GP kicks off Sept. 29 at Bellator 206 with Daley vs. Page; the event will be the first on the streaming platform DAZN.

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