Tag: Rory MacDonald Bellator

Georges St. Pierre Reacts To Rory MacDonald Signing With Bellator

Rory MacDonald has long been considered to be the heir to George St. Pierre’s previously held welterweight throne. St. Pierre reigned over the UFC 170-pound division for years before vacating the title in 2013, but MacDonald was unable to seize the strap after losing a five round war to then champion Robbie Lawler at July

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Rory MacDonald has long been considered to be the heir to George St. Pierre’s previously held welterweight throne. St. Pierre reigned over the UFC 170-pound division for years before vacating the title in 2013, but MacDonald was unable to seize the strap after losing a five round war to then champion Robbie Lawler at July 2015’s UFC 189. Now, the “Red King” has left the UFC as it was recently announced that he had signed a deal with Bellator MMA.

It may have surprised some to see one of the best welterweights on the planet leave the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion, but St. Pierre couldn’t be happier for MacDonald and his decision:

“Oh, I am very happy for Rory. I think it’s a great move for him. He chose the best option for himself and his family. I wish him the best. We’re going to train together still. I’m very happy for him. He found a new home to make more money and, if the conditions of work are better, I’m happy. I’m all for that.” St. Pierre recently told Uproxx.

As far as “Rush’s’ fighting future goes, the former champion recently made it clear that he plans to return to action after nearly three years away from the sport, and it was even rumored that he would be headlining UFC 206 in his home of Canada. An opponent has yet to be named, although current champion Tyron Woodley and former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz both appear to be reasonable options. In fact, Woodley reached out to St. Pierre to express his interest in the bout, but the Canadian said it’s simply up to the promotion who he faces off with:

“What happened is that, he (Woodley) texted me and I don’t know him very well, but he texted me and he explained that he challenged me and he wanted to do it because he wanted to fight the best. He didn’t want me to take anything as disrespect, and I didn’t take it as disrespect. He’s a competitor and I said, ‘If you want to do it, let’s do it. I’m ready to fight you.’ But it’s not my decision, the UFC is a business and the way it works, because UFC is a business, they have to choose what’s best for them.”

Who would you like to see St. Pierre face off with in his return?

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Report: Bellator Has Begun Talks With Free Agent Rory MacDonald

A few months back, former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory “Red King” MacDonald, a man who has loomed atop the promotion’s 170-pound division for years now, made it clear that he was interested in testing free agency after fighting out the last fight on his contract in hopes of finding the best deal possible. Well,

The post Report: Bellator Has Begun Talks With Free Agent Rory MacDonald appeared first on LowKick MMA.

A few months back, former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory “Red King” MacDonald, a man who has loomed atop the promotion’s 170-pound division for years now, made it clear that he was interested in testing free agency after fighting out the last fight on his contract in hopes of finding the best deal possible.

Well, that last fight has come and gone, and it didn’t end particularly well for MacDonald, as the Canadian dropped a very one-sided decision to surging contender Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson last month in Ottawa.

Now, the 26-year-old MacDonald is free to test the free agency waters and according to a tweet from MMAJunkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu, the “Red King” has already received interest from Bellator President Scott Coker:

We have seen multiple former UFC fighters jump ship and head to Bellator in recent memory including veterans Josh Koscheck and Josh Thomson as well as former lightweight champion Benson Henderson.

Prior to his loss to “Wonderboy” MacDonald had won three of his last four with the only loss in that stretch coming in a five round war for the ages against reigning UFC king Robbie Lawler in July 2015. Those three victories came opposite the likes of Demian Maia, current title challenger Tyron Woodley, and Tarec Saffiedine. MacDonald also owns wins over Nate Diaz, B.J Penn, and Jake Ellenberger.

Already an established star at the young age of 26, MacDonald undoubtedly has room to grow, and obviously has a long career ahead of him. Do you see Bellator luring in the “Red King”, or will MacDonald remain with the world’s largest mixed martial arts organization?

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