Former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald has signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and will compete in the promotion’s $1 million tournament in 2020.
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Rory MacDonald (21-6-1) last competed in October, where he was defeated by Douglas Lima in the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix Final. The 30-year-old was once one of the brightest prospects in mixed martial arts, with many comparing his potential to that of Georges St-Pierre.
While fighting in the UFC, MacDonald compiled a record of 9-4 and was involved in one of the best fights of all time in his 2015 rematch with Robbie Lawler. Despite ultimately coming up short, the Canadian proved yet again that his heart and grittiness cannot be questioned.
His stint in Bellator was not as impressive, as “The Red King” went 3-2-1 since his 2017 debut. He most notably defeated rival Douglas Lima for the welterweight strap in January 2018, but then failed to capture the middleweight title by fighting Gegard Mousasi eight months later.
Thank you to @Rory_MacDonald for the great fights. Best of luck as you continue your MMA career. pic.twitter.com/OMZeg5EB5Z
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) December 19, 2019
Rory MacDonald has previously displayed interest in retiring from the fight game. In April, the welterweight fighter even stated in a post-fight interview that he had fallen out of love with the sport, causing many to believe that retirement was on the horizon.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, MacDonald revealed that his deal with PFL is more lucrative than any other deal he has signed before. With the potential to take home the $1 million PFL grand prize in 2020, MacDonald may find that as a welcome form of motivation in 2020.