Former UFC contender and Bellator champion Rory MacDonald signs multi-fight deal with PFL

According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN former UFC title challenger and Bellator MMA champion Rory MacDonald (21-6-1) has signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

ESPN further reports that MacDonald, 30, will compete in the PFL’s 2020 season for a chance at a $1 million grand prize and the promotion’s welterweight title.

MacDonald, who is from British Columbia, Canada and mostly trains at Montreal’s Tristar Gym, has been fighting professionally since he was 16-years-old. After winning a title with the King of the Cage (KOTC) organization he signed with the UFC.

He made his UFC debut in 2010, with a submission victory over Mike Guymon. His next bout was a Fight of the Night loss to Carlos Condit. A five fight winning streak followed that, which was broken by Robbie Lawler at UFC 167 in 2013.

MacDonald then won his next three fights; versus Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedeine to earn a UFC welterweight title shot at UFC 189, versus Lawler. MacDonald lost to Lawler in a bloody battle which, to this day, consistently tops ‘Best of’ lists.

A year after that fight MacDonald lost to Stephen Thompson. After this he signed with Bellator MMA and won the Bellator welterweight title from Douglas Lima in his second fight for the promotion. MacDonald then unsuccessfully challenged Gegard Mousasi for the Bellator middleweight title.

In 2019 MacDonald entered the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix , where he sought to defend his title in a tournament setting. After a draw versus Jon Fitch and a win over Neiman Gracie, MacDonald was matched with Lima again, in the tournament final. On October 26th Lima won that fight via unanimous decision and reclaimed the welterweight championship.