Category: Rory MacDonald

  • PFL boss says to expect more free-agent signings after Rory MacDonald

    PFL boss says to expect more free-agent signings after Rory MacDonald

    PFL’s CEO says that he expects the tournament-based promotion to make more free-agent signings after recently inking former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. PFL recently signed MacDonald to a lucrative contract and he immediately became the biggest name on the entire PFL roster. He’s by far the biggest free-agent signing the company has made in […]

  • Scott Coker sends classy message to Rory MacDonald after Bellator exit

    Scott Coker sends classy message to Rory MacDonald after Bellator exit

    Earlier this week, news surfaced that former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald had parted ways with the promotion and signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Shortly thereafter, Bellator President Scott Coker took to Twitter with a classy message to his former fighter. See it below: Thank you to @Rory_MacDonald for the great fights. Best […]

  • Rory MacDonald on leaving Bellator for PFL: “It seemed like their interest in me kinda died”

    Rory MacDonald on leaving Bellator for PFL: “It seemed like their interest in me kinda died”

    Former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald made headlines on Monday when it was announced by ESPN that he was leaving Bellator MMA and joining the Professional Fighters League. Following his shocking move, MacDonald joined Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show Podcast and discussed why he left Bellator MMA following his loss to […]

  • Douglas Lima reacts to Rory MacDonald’s Bellator exit

    Douglas Lima reacts to Rory MacDonald’s Bellator exit

    Earlier this afternoon, news surfaced that former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald has parted ways with the Viacom-owned promotion and signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). While this is exciting news for MacDonald and the PFL, it does represent an unfortunate twist for fans who were hoping to see a rematch between MacDonald and […]

  • Rory MacDonald’s contract expired after Bellator 232

    Rory MacDonald’s contract expired after Bellator 232

    Rory MacDonald could soon be a free agent. The Canadian’s Bellator 232 fight with Douglas Lima, which he lost by unanimous decision, marked the final obligation on his latest contract with the Viacom-owned MMA promotion. Speaking to the media post-fight, MacDonald explained that his current Bellator contract is now expired, but that he’d be keen […]

  • Rory MacDonald issues statement following title loss to Douglas Lima

    Rory MacDonald issues statement following title loss to Douglas Lima

    At Bellator 232 on Saturday, October 26, Rory MacDonald collided with Douglas Lima in the final bout it the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. The Canadian fighter beat Lima during their first matchup in January 2018, but he wasn’t as successful the second time around. Their second battle didn’t have as much action as their first […]

  • Rory MacDonald reacts following title loss to Douglas Lima

    Rory MacDonald reacts following title loss to Douglas Lima

    Rory MacDonald squared off with Douglas Lima for second time in tonight’s Bellator 232 looking to retain his Bellator welterweight world championship. MacDonald and Lima had first met at Bellator 192 in January of 2018, with ‘The Red King’ emerging victorious by way of unanimous decision. Tonight’s rematch served as the finals of Bellator welterweight […]

  • Pros react to Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima 2 at Bellator 232

    Pros react to Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima 2 at Bellator 232

    Rory MacDonald squared off with the man he defeated to win the title Douglas Lima in the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 232 event. MacDonald (21-5-1 MMA) got to the Bellator welterweight grand prix finals (while retaining his title) by defeating Neiman Gracie and going to a majority draw with Jon Fitch. Meanwhile, Lima (31-7 MMA) […]

  • Bellator 232 Results: Douglas Lima defeats Rory MacDonald (Highlights)

    Bellator 232 Results: Douglas Lima defeats Rory MacDonald (Highlights)

    Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald will face the man he defeated to win the title Douglas Lima in the headliner of tonight’s Bellator 232 event. MacDonald (21-5-1 MMA) got to the Bellator welterweight grand prix finals by defeating Neiman Gracie and going to a majority draw with Jon Fitch. Meanwhile, Lima (31-7 MMA) earned his […]

  • Bellator 232 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima

    Bellator 232 | Pro fighters make their picks for Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima

    In the main event of Bellator 232, the welterweight title is on the line, as well as the welterweight grand prix title. The champion, Rory MacDonald rematches Douglas Lima in a very interesting bout. Heading into the scrap, the champion is a +130 underdog while the challenger is a -160 favorite. Ahead of the fight, […]

  • Dana White weighs in on the post-UFC fight career of Rory MacDonald

    Dana White weighs in on the post-UFC fight career of Rory MacDonald

    UFC President Dana White recently shared his thoughts on the post-UFC fight career of current Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. MacDonald had made headlines earlier this year, this after he questioned his desire to inflict pain on others following a draw with Jon Fitch. Despite his post-fight remarks following the Fitch fight, Rory MacDonald would […]

  • Bellator 222 | Pros react to Rory MacDonald beating Neiman Gracie to retain welterweight title

    Bellator 222 | Pros react to Rory MacDonald beating Neiman Gracie to retain welterweight title

    In the main event of Bellator 222, Rory MacDonald was looking to defend his welterweight title against undefeated jiu-jitsu star, Neiman Gracie. It was also the semi-finals of the welterweight Grand Prix where the winner would take on Douglas Lima. But, the major question going into the fight, is how Rory MacDonald would perform. After […]

  • Bellator 222 Results: Rory MacDonald defeats Neiman Gracie (Highlights)

    Bellator 222 Results: Rory MacDonald defeats Neiman Gracie (Highlights)

    The Bellator welterweight title was up for grabs in the main event of Bellator 222, as reigning champion Rory MacDonald squared off with Neiman Gracie. Rory MacDonald was making a quick turnaround, this after competing at April’s Bellator 220 event. There, ‘The Red King’ battled Jon Fitch to a draw, this retaining his welterweight title […]

  • Rory MacDonald explains how ‘new relationship with Jesus Christ’ has changed him as a fighter

    Rory MacDonald explains how ‘new relationship with Jesus Christ’ has changed him as a fighter

    Ever since his contentious Bellator 220 draw with Jon Fitch, there’s been some question about what the future holds for Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald. Much of that uncertainty stems from the comments he’s made about his flagging urge to hurt people. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, MacDonald added a bit of […]

  • Jon Fitch believes ‘we need some new people judging fights’ after controversial draw against MacDonald

    Jon Fitch believes ‘we need some new people judging fights’ after controversial draw against MacDonald

    Jon Fitch had his shot to win Bellator gold last Saturday, and many believed he had succeeded by the time the final bell rang. Fitch, who many counted out, came out and took Rory MacDonald down over and over again and dominated him on the ground. He even won one round 10-8 — but even […]

  • Rory MacDonald vs Neiman Gracie official for Bellator 222

    Rory MacDonald vs Neiman Gracie official for Bellator 222

    Bellator 220 took place this past weekend and the main event saw the welterweight title be fought over between champion, Rory MacDonald (20-5-1) and challenger, Jon Fitch to decide who would advance to the welterweight Grand Prix semifinal round. Awaiting the winner was undefeated BJJ ace, Neiman Gracie (9-0). However, there wasn’t a winner as […]

  • Bellator 220 medical suspensions: Rory MacDonald facing long-term sit

    Bellator 220 medical suspensions: Rory MacDonald facing long-term sit

    Bellator 220 was a great card, highlighted by some fun back-and-forth fights, and handful of grisly finishes. While these factors made for an entertaining card, they unfortunately also meant that several fighters on the bill were handed lengthy medical suspensions by the California State Athletic Commission. Main event fighter Rory MacDonald, for example, could be […]

  • Firas Zahabi shuts down talk of Rory MacDonald retiring

    Firas Zahabi shuts down talk of Rory MacDonald retiring

    After Rory MacDonald fought to a majority draw against Jon Fitch in the first round of the welterweight grand prix, his post-fight comments caused quite a stir. “I don’t know what to say,” MacDonald said post-fight. “I landed some good stuff in there, I don’t know. It’s hard to sometimes pull the trigger now. I […]

  • Bellator 220 fighter salaries: Rory MacDonald leaves as highest earner

    Bellator 220 fighter salaries: Rory MacDonald leaves as highest earner

    Bellator 220 went down on Saturday night as it was headlined by two big title fights in the respective welterweight and flyweight divisions. In the co-main event, we saw “The Ilimanator” Ilima-Lei Macfarlane extend her perfect record to 10-0 as she picked up her third title defense by finishing Veta Arteaga in the third-round by […]

  • Neiman Gracie calls ‘bulls**t’ on Rory MacDonald’s post-fight comments

    Neiman Gracie calls ‘bulls**t’ on Rory MacDonald’s post-fight comments

    Shortly after battling Jon Fitch to a draw in the main event of Bellator 220, Bellator welterweight champ Rory MacDonald made some comments that cast doubt on his future as a fighter. Most notably, he suggested that he no longer has the desire to hurt people — certainly an issue for those who make their […]

  • Rory MacDonald questioning fighting future after Jon Fitch draw

    Rory MacDonald questioning fighting future after Jon Fitch draw

    Last night, in the main event of Bellator 220, Rory MacDonald retained the Bellator welterweight title and moved to the second round of the Bellator welterweight Grand Prix with a draw against former World Series of Fighting champion Jon Fitch. After this controversial bout, MacDonald is apparently questioning his continued desire to fight — more […]

  • Bellator 220 results: Rory MacDonald draws with Jon Fitch (Highlights)

    Bellator 220 results: Rory MacDonald draws with Jon Fitch (Highlights)

    Bellator has brought back life to their old school style of tournaments with their world title Grand Prix’s. And for the welterweight tournament, Bellator 220 hosted the first title fight as the champion, Rory MacDonald, made his first return after an unsuccessful attempt at capturing middleweight gold in his last time out. The extremely season […]

  • Pro fighters make their picks for Rory MacDonald vs Jon Fitch

    Pro fighters make their picks for Rory MacDonald vs Jon Fitch

    In the main event of Bellator 220, Rory MacDonald will look to defend his welterweight title against Jon Fitch. Not only will MacDonald be putting his belt on the line, but it will also be the last matchup of the first round of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out […]

  • EXCLUSIVE | Rory MacDonald impressed by Ben Askren’s UFC debut, ‘He’s quite a powerful star’

    EXCLUSIVE | Rory MacDonald impressed by Ben Askren’s UFC debut, ‘He’s quite a powerful star’

    Current Bellator welterweight champion, Rory MacDonald has become fairly familiar with ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler over the years. Formerly a staple of the UFC’s 170-pound division, MacDonald would fight Lawler twice during his UFC run. The first time being in a three-round affair that saw him on the wrong end of a split decision. Their second […]

  • EXCLUSIVE | Rory MacDonald knows ‘what not to do’ against Jon Fitch after Gegard Mousasi fight

    EXCLUSIVE | Rory MacDonald knows ‘what not to do’ against Jon Fitch after Gegard Mousasi fight

    The last bout of the Bellator welterweight Grand Prix’s opening round is set to headline this Saturday night’s Bellator 220 event live in San Jose, California. The bout will be the first of the tournament to feature the title being contested. Of course, that means that the current champion, Rory MacDonald, will be putting his […]

  • More reasons to watch Bellator 220

    More reasons to watch Bellator 220

    The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) isn’t the only show streaming live Saturday night as Bellator 220 will go head to head with the MMA juggernaut. While Bellator has a habit of filling up the undercard with local fighters to help move ticket sales, that often times affects the quality of fights the fans get. There’s […]

  • EXCLUSIVE | Jon Fitch preparing to shock the world in Bellator 220 main event

    EXCLUSIVE | Jon Fitch preparing to shock the world in Bellator 220 main event

    Jon Fitch is fighting for the Bellator welterweight title on Saturday night, in the last first-round bout of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. The 41-year-old, who is 1-0 inside the Bellator cage, will be taking on the champion Rory MacDonald in the main event of Bellator 220. Although Fitch is the underdog heading into this […]

  • Coach Firas Zahabi rips ‘cheater’ Jon Fitch in virulent tirade

    Coach Firas Zahabi rips ‘cheater’ Jon Fitch in virulent tirade

    On April 27, in the main event of Bellator 220, Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald will attempt to defend his title against former World Series of Fighting champ Jon Fitch in the final, first-round bout of the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. Speaking to Robin Black and DAZN ahead of this fight, MacDonald’s coach Firas Zahabi, […]