Rory MacDonald is determined to win PFL's $1 million tournament after Bellator 'fumbled' chance to re-sign him

Rory MacDonald is determined to win the Professional Fighters League's $1 million tournament after Bellator "fumbled" its chance to re-sign him, the Canadian star told Insider.

MacDonald has a pro MMA record of 21 wins (seven knockouts, seven submissions, and seven decisions) against six losses.

He has beaten Nate Diaz, B.J. Penn, and Demian Maia in the UFC, was crowned welterweight champion in Bellator, and ushered in a new PFL era when he signed a deal with the New York-based MMA firm at the end of 2019.

Fast forward over a year and MacDonald has yet to fight in the PFL after the company postponed its 2020 schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic. MacDonald's last fight was almost 18 months ago, a Bellator bout he lost by decision to Douglas Lima.

He'll make his PFL debut on April 29 — over a year after he should have done — headlining one of the promotion's two live events in the month, the first since New Year's Eve 2019.

MacDonald fights David Michaud in an event that features Ray Cooper, Emiliano Sordi, and Magomed Magomedkerimov in separate fights.

MacDonald told us he's been impressed by the roster that PFL President Ray Sefo has been putting together, and vowed to win this year's tournament — including the $1 million paycheck December 31.

The money on offer, he said, is one of the reasons he left Bellator.

"We were trying to get a deal done with Bellator before the Lima fight because that was going to be the last bout on my contract," the 31-year-old said. "And it just kept getting put on the back-burner.

"They had interest but it just felt like Bellator had so many other things, were unorganized, and never got round to finalizing the deal between me and then.

"The fight happened, we had some more time to figure it all out. But then I was a free agent so I was able to negotiate because they just kind of fumbled their chance to re-sign me.

"I went for the best offer and that was with the PFL," MacDonald said.

PFL differs to other MMA promotions as it features a league format — a regular season, playoffs, and a finals — that make it more aligned with conventional North American sports like basketball and football.

The UFC, which the PFL hopes to one day rival, matchmakers athletes in standalone fights where the winners are propelled up divisional rankings until they challenge for the title.

MacDonald said he likes the season format because, after so long out of the cage, he just wants to fight regularly.

"I believe the season format is going to keep me really busy and, for the next few years, I think that's going to be crucial.

"I know what to look forward to. I have potentially five fights ahead of me in the coming months and so that keeps me driven, motivated, and working toward my short-term goal which is to be this year's champion.

MacDonald then reiterated that the most important thing that brought him to the PFL was the "financial point."

"Go out, prove myself again, keep my training strong, get the ring experience, but mostly … the financial point and what they offered me is what motivated me [to sign].

"That was the biggest thing," he said. "Getting my rewards and the best deal for myself. But I love the format, I can stay busy and I know my schedule for the entire year.

"They're a growing company and they're motivated to make their name in this sport."

Time away from fighting can prolong a career, MacDonald said

MacDonald said that time off between fights has been beneficial to him.

"It'll prolong my career," he told Insider.

"Not only does it give my body time to heal but I feel this was a blessing because I was able to manage some things in my personal life.

"I got my hunger back for the sport," he said. "I'm refocused and driven on what I want to achieve in this sport.

"Near the end of my time at Bellator, I felt like I had one foot-in and one foot-out of the sport, and my last couple of performances showed that, unfortunately.

"Thank God I'm driven again to achieve the best possible case scenario for me and my career, and I'm looking forward to reclaiming my spot as the best in the sport."

Despite the postponement of the PFL season, there was potential for some PFL-contracted athletes to compete in other organizations, or other fighting disciplines.

PFL queen Kayla Harrison famously fought at an Invicta event in November 2020 and left the canvas so bloody she said it felt like "a slip'n'slide."

MacDonald considered a jiu jitsu match, but said it ultimately didn't work out and he maintained his overall mixed martial arts skills in the gym.

"I think it all worked out," he said. "I worked hard, trained, and did what I had to do to make improvements."

PFL has a hulking welterweight roster, according to MacDonald

When Insider spoke to MacDonald, the welterweight matches for April 29 had not yet been confirmed.

But should MacDonald win throughout the season, he could end up fighting five times in a nine-month span. If all goes well, he'll have to take on one, or both, of the previous champions — Magomed Magomedkerimov and Ray Cooper.

On his potential 170-pound rivals at PFL, MacDonald said: "Grappling is Magomedkerimov's strength. His striking isn't a threat to me even if he's not afraid to strike. He definitely has wrestling and submissions to watch out for.

"Ray Cooper is a powerhouse guy, fights with a lot of emotion and heart and brings the fire to every fight he goes into. That's something to watch out for, too, but I feel my skill-set will be able to neutralize his fire, so to speak.

"Honestly, I'm impressed with all the guys I've seen in the 170-pound line-up as they all bring their own element of danger."

Regardless of the talent he'll have to beat, MacDonald is so confident of becoming the PFL's champion this season that he's already mentally spending his million dollar prize.

"I definitely have put some thoughts into the prize money," he said.

"I want to invest it so I'll see how the market plays out. I'll probably do a defensive play at first because of how the market is looking, but then when the time is right, I'll get into a dividend strategy, income properties, things like that."

The PFL's 2021 season begins on April 23 from a to-be-determined site in Las Vegas, and will broadcast regular season events on April 29, May 6, June 10, June 17, and June 25.

It is not yet confirmed when the playoffs will take place, but the finals will be scheduled on December 31.

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