Rory MacDonald has opened up on his underwhelming middleweight title bout against Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 206, calling it the worst performance of his fighting career.
MacDonald, a former UFC welterweight title challenger, looked tentative from the opening bell and was unable to mount any significant offense against Mousasi. The Canadian was dominated on the feet before eventually being taken down and finished with a barrage of ground-and-pound in the second round.
Speaking to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani in a recent interview, MacDonald said his preparation for the Mousasi fight lacked the ‘fire’ and intensity of previous training camps, and that he only has himself to blame for his lack of motivation.
“I don’t know why. If it was bad timing or what. I still haven’t figured it out, but I am working on it,” MacDonald said (h/t Adam Guillen Jr. of MMA Mania). “I knew during training camp that I wasn’t preparing myself properly. I was just kind of lying to myself like,’ I will just give it my best shot when it happens, make the best of it.’ But it turned out to be the worst performance of my career against my biggest opportunity. It’s a big let down but it was my fault at the end of the day. I only blame myself.
“I felt fine, I wasn’t nervous or anything. I was very relaxed, maybe too relaxed. I didn’t have any desire to fight hard. I was too busy being comfortable, living a comfortable lifestyle and not pushing myself in my training. I was too relaxed, and in the fight. I didn’t have that fire, it was pretty clear, too.”
Although MacDonald is embarrassed by the loss, the 29-year-old will look to bounce back against Jon Fitch, who he will take on in the opening round of the Bellator welterweight Grand Prix next year. The Tristar product is the current Bellator welterweight champion.