Rory MacDonald News
Pros react after Rory MacDonald suffers TKO loss to Dilano Taylor at PFL 8: "Prob time for him to find another profession"
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2022
Former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald collided with Dilano Taylor in the headliner of today’s PFL Playoffs 2 event in Wales. Taylor (10-2 MMA) had stepped up on short notice for the welterweight semi-final bout, this after MacDonald’s original opponent Magomed Umalatov was forced to withdraw from the event due to Visa issues.
PFL Playoffs 2 Results: Dilano Taylor stops Rory MacDonald in Round 1 (Video)
Chris Taylor - August 13, 2022
Former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald squared off with Dilano Taylor in the headliner of today’s PFL Playoffs 2 event in Wales. Taylor (10-2 MMA) stepped in on short notice for the semi-final contest, this after MacDonald’s original opponent Magomed Umalatov was forced to withdraw from the event due to Visa issues.
Rory MacDonald issues statement following PFL loss to Ray Cooper lll
Harry Kettle - August 20, 2021
Rory MacDonald has issued a statement following his PFL semi-final defeat to Ray Cooper III last week. MacDonald, who was also beaten by Gleison Tibau in a controversial split decision defeat just two months ago, has been on quite the rollercoaster ride ever since leaving the UFC and joining Bellator – and then PFL.
Rory MacDonald looks back on fight with 'one tough guy' BJ Penn
Drake Riggs - August 11, 2021
Rory MacDonald has fought some of the biggest and best names in MMA. “The Red King” initially rose to prominence in the UFC welterweight division often touted as the heir to Georges St-Pierre as the two trained together at TriStar in Montreal. MacDonald started off his career with a strong 13-1 record but it wasn’t until his 14th victory that many believed he was ready for the upper-echelon of the weight class.
Gleison Tibau vows to knock Rory MacDonald out in future PFL rematch: "He already wanted the fight to be over"
Adam D Martin - June 22, 2021
Veteran Gleison Tibau vowed to knock Rory MacDonald out in a future PFL rematch, saying that “he already wanted the fight to be over.” Tibau won a highly controversial split decision over MacDonald in the main event of PFL 5. Most fans and media believed that MacDonald did enough to win the decision, but two of the three judges gave the split nod to Tibau instead. Some fans have suggested it’s one of the worst decisions they have ever seen, but if you ask Tibau, he’s confident he won.
Gleison Tibau admits it was a "big surprise" to defeat Rory MacDonald in PFL
Adam Martin - June 20, 2021
Former UFC lightweight contender Gleison Tibau admitted that it was a “big surprise” for him that he defeated Rory MacDonald in PFL. Tibau earned one of the biggest upsets of the year so far in MMA when he won a controversial split decision over MacDonald at PFL 5 last Thursday in New Jersey. The decision was extremely controversial, with many fans and media declaring it a “robbery” after two of the three judges scored the bout in favor of the Brazilian. Most thought that MacDonald did enough to win at least two of the three rounds and earn the decision, but the judges had other plans as they awarded the longtime UFC veteran Tibau the decision.
Rory MacDonald reacts following “clear robbery” in PFL 5 fight with Gleison Tibau: “I think that this should be looked into”
Adam D Martin - June 18, 2021
Rory MacDonald reacted following the “clear robbery” in his PFL 5 fight with Gleison Tibau, saying “I think that this should be looked into.” MacDonald was competing in PFL for the second time following a submission win over Curtis Millender in his promotional debut in April. Against Tibau, MacDonald used a game plan of sticking and moving on the outside to outpoint Tibau and take home a decision. He also used his grappling in the first round effectively. However, when the judges’ scorecards were read after the three rounds, it was Tibau winning the split decision, not MacDonald.
Photo | Check out the scorecards from Rory MacDonald vs Gleison Tibau
Harry Kettle - June 18, 2021
The scorecards from the three judges scoring Rory MacDonald vs Gleison Tibau last night have been released to the public. PFL 5 is officially in the books and while we may know the four welterweight contenders who will progress through to the playoffs, the process of learning who would go through certainly didn’t come easily.
Rory MacDonald disputes the notion that all of the world’s top mixed martial artists are in the UFC
Adam D Martin - May 26, 2021
PFL welterweight contender Rory MacDonald has disputed the notion that all of the world’s top mixed martial artists are in the UFC. MacDonald was one of the UFC’s top welterweights from 2010 to 2016, going 9-4 in the Octagon during that stretch, even fighting Robbie Lawler for the belt at UFC 189 in 2015. Since leaving the UFC, MacDonald traveled to Bellator, where he became that promotion’s welterweight champion, and now he’s in PFL, where he is one of the favorites to take down the $1 million grand prize in the organization’s 170lbs tournament. MacDonald might not be in his prime anymore but he’s still a quality welterweight even though he’s in PFL.
Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau headlines PFL 5
Adam D Martin - May 19, 2021
PFL welterweight Rory MacDonald fights fellow UFC veteran Gleison Tibau in his next regular-season match in the Professional Fighters League. The PFL made the MacDonald vs. Tibau fight announcement official on Wednesday, along with announcing the rest of the PFL 5 card. The event takes place on Thursday, June 17 at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Check out the full card below.
Rory MacDonald reacts after beating Curtis Millender at PFL 2
Adam D Martin - April 30, 2021
Former UFC and Bellator welterweight star Rory MacDonald reacted after beating Curtis Millender by first-round submission at PFL 2. MacDonald hadn’t fought since October 2019, when he dropped a decision to Douglas Lima in Bellator in what was his final fight before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. After taking all of 2020 off, PFL is back for its third season in 2021, and MacDonald was matched up in his first regular-season fight against Millender at PFL 2 on Thursday night. It didn’t take long for “The Red King” to land the takedown, take the back of Millender, and get back in the win column. It was a fantastic win by MacDonald and showed he’s still a talented fighter.
PFL 2 Results: Rory MacDonald submits Curtis Millender in round one (Highlights)
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2021
The PFL’s 2021 season is officially underway. After a wild first event, it was on to the next as Rory MacDonald made his long-awaited debut. Standing in his way was fellow UFC and Bellator veteran, “Courteous” Curtis Millender. MacDonald was last in action in October 2019 when rematching Douglas Lima. After a successful Bellator debut in May 2017 against Paul Daley, MacDonald went on to defeat Lima and become the welterweight champion.
Rory MacDonald praises former opponent BJ Penn: "I always looked up to him"
Adam Martin - April 4, 2021
PFL welterweight Rory MacDonald praised former opponent BJ Penn, saying that he was someone who he looked up to coming up in the sport. MacDonald returns to the cage later this month when he takes on David Michaud in a welterweight bout as part of PFL’s season three. MacDonald is a former UFC title challenger and a former Bellator welterweight champion, but he took his talents to PFL in search of a new challenge and the lure of the $1 million grand prize. For someone who has been fighting the best welterweights in the world for the past decade, the chance for MacDonald to go to the PFL and try to win another world title was something he couldn’t pass up.
Rory MacDonald set to make PFL welterweight debut against David Michaud
Adam Martin - March 2, 2021
Former UFC title contender Rory MacDonald is set to soon make his PFL welterweight debut against David Michaud when they square off in April. PFL is set to return this spring for its third season after missing all of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion has brought in a number of new fighters to improve its roster, with six divisions of 10 fighters each, including tournament fighters and alternates. One of those fighters is MacDonald, the former Bellator welterweight champion. “The Red King” signed with PFL in late 2019 and was expected to fight in 2020, but his promotional debut was delayed until now as we now have a date for his next fight.
Ray Cooper believes Rory MacDonald hasn't been the same since UFC, 'He's just another guy'
Drake Riggs - February 16, 2021
The PFL 2021 season is shaping up to be a good one. Among the most notable new roster additions is Rory MacDonald — and last year’s champion, Ray Cooper III, is not impressed. After dropping his Bellator welterweight title in a rematch against Douglas Lima on October 26, 2019, MacDonald parted ways with the promotion. Now he finds himself once again on the hunt for a million dollars at the end of the PFL tournament.
Photo | Rory MacDonald appears to be in phenomenal condition ahead of his PFL debut
Chris Taylor - January 30, 2021
Former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald appears to be in phenomenal shape ahead of his PFL debut. MacDonald (21-6-1 MMA) signed with the Professional Fighters League following a six-fight stint with Bellator. “The Red King” is coming off a loss to Douglas Lima in his most recent effort, which occurred back in October of 2019. Prior to that setback, Rory MacDonald was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Neiman Gracie.
Rory MacDonald reveals the proudest moment and biggest regret of his fighting career
Natasha Hooper - July 6, 2020
With his career on standstill due to the ongoing pandemic, Rory MacDonald has had the opportunity to reflect on the highs and lows of his fighting career. During an interview with MMA Fighting, the 30-year old revealed the moments that have defined his 15-year professional career.
Douglas Lima "disappointed" Rory MacDonald left Bellator but hopes trilogy happens down the line
Cole Shelton - April 30, 2020
Douglas Lima says he’s disappointed Rory MacDonald left Bellator as it ruined plans for a trilogy fight. MacDonald is the former Bellator welterweight champion but after losing his belt to Lima in the grand prix final, he left in free agency to PFL. Many were surprised as they figured the Canadian would re-sign to set up the trilogy with Lima, which the Brazilian thought would be the case.