We’ve seen fan favourite welterweight Rory MacDonald fight in the Octagon for the last time.
After entering free agency, MacDonald has been snapped up by Bellator, according to a report from FloCombat.
The contract of the former 170 lbs challenger ran up after his last bout, a five round clash with Stephen Thompson in Ottawa, and MacDonald had made no secret about his intentions to test his value in the market.
‘The Red King’ was removed from the official UFC rankings early on Wednesday afternoon and, hours later, confirmation of his move to Bellator was announced.
The Canadian made his UFC debut back in 2010 and had been pegged as the next Georges St-Pierre, the Montreal native with whom MacDonald ended up forming a close relationship as training partners at Tristar, but he came unstuck in his first bid for welterweight gold when he engaged in a now-legendary war with Robbie Lawler in the co-main event of UFC 189 last July.
Despite the fact that MacDonald was coming off of consecutive defeats for the first time in his 11-year career, his signature was considered one of the most valuable in the sport once his contract with the UFC drew to a close.
The 27-year-old joins the likes of Benson Henderson and Matt Mitrione as competitors who have moved from the UFC to Bellator this year as president of the latter organisation, Scott Coker, aims to provide greater competition for the most recognisable brand in mixed martial arts.
And it would not be at all surprising to see MacDonald walk directly into a title shot with Bellator welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov for his promotional bow.
On the latest GAA Hour we look back at Mayo-Tipperary and chat to Andy Moran about his incredible, never-ending career. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
