Rory MacDonald (born July 22, 1989) is a Canadian former mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Prior to signing with the PFL, MacDonald competed for Bellator MMA, where he is a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion.
2005
Having been a professional competitor since 2005, MacDonald was a top contender in the UFC with an overall UFC record of 9–4, and challenged for the UFC Welterweight Championship at UFC 189 in against then-champion Robbie Lawler.
He is also a former King of the Cage Lightweight Champion.
MacDonald started his training with David Lea at the age of 14 and his fight team Toshido Fighting Arts Academy out of Kelowna, British Columbia.
He made his professional debut at the age of sixteen, winning in the first round by submission against Terry Thiara at an Extreme Fighting Challenge event via rear naked choke.
He then moved to 2–0, by beating Ken Tran in his King of the Cage (KOTC) debut.
He won a fight in Rumble in the Cage and then signed exclusively with King of the Cage.
He won two fights after signing and was then rewarded with a shot at the KOTC Canadian Lightweight title, against Kajan Johnson, which MacDonald won.
MacDonald then was awarded a shot at the King of the Cage Lightweight Championship, against Clay French, MacDonald knocked him out in the second round.
After the fight MacDonald moved up to welterweight and defeated Elmer Waterhen by first round armbar.
MacDonald was signed to the UFC after compiling a 9–0 professional record.
He debuted for the promotion at UFC Fight Night 20 against Mike Guymon.
Guymon dropped MacDonald with a right cross, before MacDonald quickly recovered, took Guymon down and won the fight with an armbar submission in the first round.
MacDonald lost to Carlos Condit via third-round TKO at UFC 115 in a bout that earned the Fight of the Night award.
MacDonald was competitive in the first two rounds using effective striking and taking Condit down three times.
Condit came back with a more aggressive attitude in the final round and finished MacDonald with a combination of elbows and punches.
After the fight, the judges' scorecards were revealed and showed that had MacDonald not been finished in the last seven seconds, he would have picked up a split decision victory.
After this loss, Macdonald moved to Montreal and joined Tristar Gym, home of elite fighters such as former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre.
2010
MacDonald was expected to face Matt Brown on November 20, 2010, at UFC 123, but was forced from the card with an injury and replaced by Brian Foster.
2011
MacDonald was expected to face James Wilks on April 30, 2011, at UFC 129.
However, Wilks was replaced on the card by Nate Diaz.
MacDonald dominated Diaz during all three rounds (throwing Diaz via German Suplex three times in the third round) and earning a unanimous decision victory.
MacDonald next faced and defeated Mike Pyle by TKO in the first round on August 6, 2011, at UFC 133.
MacDonald was expected to face Brian Ebersole on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140.
However, MacDonald pulled out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by Claude Patrick.
2012
MacDonald was scheduled to face Che Mills at UFC 145 on March 24, 2012.
However, the event was initially cancelled and then moved from Montreal to take place in Atlanta, Georgia on April 21, 2012.
MacDonald won the bout via second-round TKO.
After getting hit with hard shots in the first round, MacDonald took the fight to the ground, where he controlled the fight with his superior wrestling and ground and pound.
MacDonald was expected to face B.J. Penn on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152.
However, MacDonald pulled out of the bout after sustaining a cut to the forehead while training.
The fight eventually took place on December 8, 2012, at UFC on Fox 5.
MacDonald dominated Penn for three rounds and won by unanimous decision.
2013
MacDonald was expected to face Carlos Condit in a rematch on March 16, 2013, at UFC 158.
However, MacDonald pulled out of the bout citing another injury, and was replaced by Johny Hendricks.
MacDonald defeated Jake Ellenberger by unanimous decision on July 27, 2013, at UFC on Fox 8.
He used his size and reach advantage to repeatedly land his jab, neutralizing the shorter Ellenberger.
UFC president Dana White criticized the performance as "lackluster".
MacDonald next lost a split decision to Robbie Lawler at UFC 167.
