One of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's top welterweights and former number welterweight contender, Rory MacDonald, is now a member of the Bellator MMA roster. Balloter, a rival competitor of the UFC as a mixed martial arts promotion, signed MacDonald after the Canadian fighter entered free agency.
Rory "The Red King" MacDonald, was a standout in the UFC, being one of their biggest prospects in the welterweight division. MacDonald, despite having an impressive record during his run in the UFC twice fell short of becoming world champion. He lost to Robbie Lawler in the 2015's Fight of the Year, after which we have sidelined for almost a year due to a broken nose.
Leading up to MacDonald's last fight in the UFC against Stephen Thompson, "The Red King" revealed that he and the UFC were not seeing eye-to-eye in terms of contract negotiations, according to a report from MMA Fighting. MacDonald said that the UFC would not offer him the salary he believes he deserves as being one of the best fighters in the world, and that he would bet on himself and enter free agency, adding that he will sign with the promotion that would offer him the most money.
MacDonald who has a professional mixed martial arts record of 18 wins and 4 losses, made the announcement of his Bellator MMA signing at Bellator 160 at the Honda Center in California, according to MMA Junkie. MacDonald also stated that he plans on not only competing in Bellator's welterweight division but also has his eyes set on the 185 middleweight division.
However, the 27-year-old MacDonald will not be making his Bellator in 2016, instead, he will return to fighting in 2017 due to his healing nose. MacDonald's nose was severely shattered in his title fight against Robbie Lawler and has fought without allowing his nose to heal properly. Now, he wants to be injury-free when he makes his anticipated Bellator debut.
