Why did Rory leave Bellator?

[Jackonfire]

PFL is going to air a 6 part documentary about MacDonald starting June 30th:

MacDonald will star in a six-part documentary series called ‘Red King Rundown,’ as the show plans to document his career, signing with the PFL, dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

“With the launch of Red King Rundown, we’re excited to provide our passionate fanbase with unprecedented access to one of the best MMA fighters of the past decade,” said Dan Ghosh-Roy, Chief Digital Officer of the Professional Fighters League. “Through commentary and insights from Rory and those closest to him, we will tell his inspiring story and explore the experiences that have prepared him for his next challenge, earning a PFL title. This is the type of in-depth storytelling MMA fans crave, and what PFL Studios is committed to delivering.”

The show will release weekly on PFL’s YouTube channel, beginning June 30 and into the month of July. MacDonald looks forward to a fresh start and working towards another championship.

“I’m proud of the man I’ve become inside and outside of the cage and am thankful for the pivotal moments and people who have helped shape me over the years,” said MacDonald. “I’m excited to have my story told in a way that has never been done before. Fans will see why I am ready to dominate the PFL welterweight division, add another title to my resume, and remind the world what I am capable of.”

https://fansided.com/2020/06/23/rory-macdonald-featured-new-pfl-series-red-king-rundown/

 

[Kingz]

Bellator didn’t offer him a new contract

 

[Chubi]

Trying things to stay motivated to compete I'd say.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

PFL tournaments are so dumb, shit quality of opponents and the winners get 1 million?? I really don't get why more good fighters don't join. Look at their HW champion, Philipe Lins, Arlovski schooled him. That dude won 1 million. I don't get it. A guy like Niko Price could win those 1 mill, Volkan, Guillespie, Brunson, etc...

Emiliano Sordi won 1 million last year, that dude lost in the contender series in 15 seconds against Ryan Spang.

WW this year would have been pretty tough. They have Aleksakhin and Magomedkerimov in there which would have been tough fights for Rory. Cooper can knock people out too, but I think Rory would have been able to get him down beat him.


Sordi is pretty good btw, he's just a kill or be killed kind of guy, I'd like the UFC to pick him up, he wouldn't be a contender, but he's exciting and I'd rather watch him than Devin Clark.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

He won't make as much per fight in PFL but if he wins the season he will make more money in PFL than in Bellator.

 

[Danis_champ]

Had Rory returned, he would be right up there as a top-5 170 pounder. I'd favour him over Covington, Masvidal, Edwards and Woodley.

While I agree he should be favored against Woodley I just don't see how he beats other guys in your list. It just seems you haven't seen Rory's last fights. He went to a draw with 40 year old washed up Fitch and struggled with Neiman Gracie (two judges scored it 3-2). Covington would put a wrestling clinic on him and Masvidal and edwards would hurt Rory standing badly. Rory hasn't been a top fighter for a good few years now. The only top 15 guys I would favor Rory against are Pettis, RDA and Nate. Perhaps Woodley too. Even guys like Neal and Luque would knock Rory out.

 

[Goatenstein]

Jesus told him to, obviously.

 

[Pepy]

 

[Hellowhosthat]

PFL is going to air a 6 part documentary about MacDonald starting June 30th:

MacDonald will star in a six-part documentary series called ‘Red King Rundown,’ as the show plans to document his career, signing with the PFL, dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

“With the launch of Red King Rundown, we’re excited to provide our passionate fanbase with unprecedented access to one of the best MMA fighters of the past decade,” said Dan Ghosh-Roy, Chief Digital Officer of the Professional Fighters League. “Through commentary and insights from Rory and those closest to him, we will tell his inspiring story and explore the experiences that have prepared him for his next challenge, earning a PFL title. This is the type of in-depth storytelling MMA fans crave, and what PFL Studios is committed to delivering.”

The show will release weekly on PFL’s YouTube channel, beginning June 30 and into the month of July. MacDonald looks forward to a fresh start and working towards another championship.

“I’m proud of the man I’ve become inside and outside of the cage and am thankful for the pivotal moments and people who have helped shape me over the years,” said MacDonald. “I’m excited to have my story told in a way that has never been done before. Fans will see why I am ready to dominate the PFL welterweight division, add another title to my resume, and remind the world what I am capable of.”

https://fansided.com/2020/06/23/rory-macdonald-featured-new-pfl-series-red-king-rundown/

Well this sounds entertaining.

 

[listrahtes]

I can understand Bellators position not to renew his contract. At that point he really seemed to fall of the deep end into a mix of depression and religious delusion.
Completely unfocused and a marketing nightmare.

I am also surprised he continues fighting. Could be he overcame his problems or its just a necessity to earn money.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I can understand Bellators position not to renew his contract. At that point he really seemed to fall of the deep end into a mix of depression and religious delusion.
Completely unfocused and a marketing nightmare.

I am also surprised he continues fighting. Could be he overcame his problems or its just a necessity to earn money.

I think the main thing he has going for him in terms of continuing to fight is although he doesn't seem to really like hurting people now, he's also such an exceptionally skilled martial artist at this stage in his career that he's very difficult to hurt. Outside the Mousasi fight I can't recall him taking major damage in his recent fights.

 

[bigconan]

Rory was going through a lot. He had some kind of personality conflict where he turned to religion in the last few fights and felt morally conflicted because he didn’t feel he should be hurting people etc... He talked about it on Helwanis podcast and it was quite odd. He’s definitely not the same guy he used to be.

same thing happened to fedor...once a guy gets all religious, their fighting skills seem to diminish greatly. in the cage, you have to be a relentless fighter...trying to cause as much bodily harm as possible...that will go directly against their new found religious beliefs....

 

[CatchnShoot]

I think Rory’s been checked out for a while now. He’s done as a force in mma, unless he dumps his woman and finds Satan, the Red King is long dead,

 

[ChangeIsComing]

Rory was going through a lot. He had some kind of personality conflict where he turned to religion in the last few fights and felt morally conflicted because he didn’t feel he should be hurting people etc... He talked about it on Helwanis podcast and it was quite odd. He’s definitely not the same guy he used to be.

I hate religion...and I hate how people turn to it when they go through shit in life....IMO religion should be banned completely worldwide.

 

[ChangeIsComing]

I think Rory’s been checked out for a while now. He’s done as a force in mma, unless he dumps his woman and finds Satan, the Red King is long dead,

TBH ever since that second war with Robbie it has been downhill...that fight really left him defeated in so many ways it would appear. I feel if not for the money because he made a name in the sport...he would have retired.

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

This.
I remember one of his fights (could have been the last, I don't recall) at the post fight interview (inside thew cage) he stated that he didn't have in him to hurt/finish his opponent.
I thought he was done... I am surprised he came back.
Then again, he has been training and doing MMA since he was so young, I don't know if he has any alternative...

The interesting thing about Rory is that he’s a testament to how hard it is to have longevity in the sport. He was one of the first guys that came in during the modern mma era. When he entered the sport we had knowledge of CTE, proper training methods. Fighter pay wasn’t remarkable but no one was getting murdered for $500. At least to me, he marks the start of a new group of fighters. He started quite young, and even now he’s only 30, which is when many guys hit their stride and peak.

But the taxation of the mental stress, the damage he’s accrued....long term injuries....all of those things play a role. Here’s a guy who has all the talent you could possibly want, coming up on his physical prime as a man, and he’s not even in the top 2 orgs anymore. Just goes to show you how significant the mental side of mma is, and how hard it is to maintain the kind of focus needed to stay at the very top levels.

 

[ChangeIsComing]

PFL tournaments are so dumb, shit quality of opponents and the winners get 1 million?? I really don't get why more good fighters don't join. Look at their HW champion, Philipe Lins, Arlovski schooled him. That dude won 1 million. I don't get it. A guy like Niko Price could win those 1 mill, Volkan, Guillespie, Brunson, etc... But they all stay in UFC

Emiliano Sordi won 1 million last year, that dude lost in the contender series in 15 seconds against Ryan Spang. Spang "won" that 12/12 contract that day lol

The main reason why they do not make the move is due to the payout if they do not win the 1 mil, I forget the exacts but pretty sure the show money is a joke in PFL...so if you dont win...you lose financially.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

I wasn't aware he signed with PFL. And pretty surprised, cause I can't imagine PFL would pay him more than Bellator.

Is there a story to it? Pay issues? Did Bellator not want him anymore?

Maybe I'm underselling PFL but that seems like a steep decline for somebody who was once considered a phenom and the next WW champion.

The bigger mystery is why more aren't going to PFL.

I get it a few years ago when it was a questionable whether they would pay.

But they've paid for a few years now. They seem to pay as well as UFC & Bellator per fight, AND a $1m bonus if you win it all.

Guys like Neil Magny or Drew Dober should seriously consider it.

 

[MMAProfessional]

He couldn’t win the $1m in Bellator so he went for the easier $1m in PFL

I don't get how people are confused. It's pretty clear cut. If he wins the tournament he gets 1 mil which would take him years in Bellator to earn. Then you look at past winners. Some of them are legit but others wouldn't even be in the top 20 in the UFC. Hell, Sean O'Connell won.

 

[MMAProfessional]

The main reason why they do not make the move is due to the payout if they do not win the 1 mil, I forget the exacts but pretty sure the show money is a joke in PFL...so if you dont win...you lose financially.

Kayla Harrison earned $124,850 in one of her fights. It makes you wonder why more women don't go over there, especially the top girls who could easily run through their roster.

"Harrison earned an event-high $124,850 following her first-round submission win over Bobbi Jo Dalziel that put her into the finals where she will have the opportunity to take home a $1 million grand prize."

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/10...x-figure-payday-to-lead-all-salaries-at-pfl-7