Rory MacDonald close to finalizing contract with Bellator MMA

[Cammo101]

They must have paid a **** fortune. For the ufc not to match? This is a tier or two up from Bendo and Davis, imo.

I was actually more surprised to see Bendo go than Rory. Benson was a former champ, put on mostly exciting fights, and was a total company guy and a key cog to them building up their brand in Asia. I'm still shocked they let him walk.

Rory I'm less surprised to see go. He looks more like the guy that usually is allowed to walk. Less exciting guy who looked like a future champ but seemingly plateaued. Really the big difference between Rory and Phil Davis is that at least Rory was a hypothetical draw in Canada, which the UFC seems to be lacking.

Surprised to see him go, but less surprised than when Bendo left.

[Nemesis21]

Just because I'm bored and can't let things go. Can you explain what you meant by this?

:rofl: at him leaving.

I already did

[REDDzone]

People are talking Koreshkov, Lima, etc. but I actually hope they give Rory a little bit of a break and give him an easier fight to start, maybe a guy like Paul Daley (to hide the fact that they are giving him an easy fight to the casuals).

Rory's opponent list in the ufc has been insanity - Wonderboy, Lawlerx2, Saffiedine, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, Condit, Diaz

[REDDzone]

I was actually more surprised to see Bendo go than Rory. Benson was a former champ, put on mostly exciting fights, and was a total company guy and a key cog to them building up their brand in Asia. I'm still shocked they let him walk.

Rory I'm less surprised to see go. He looks more like the guy that usually is allowed to walk. Less exciting guy who looked like a future champ but seemingly plateaued. Really the big difference between Rory and Phil Davis is that at least Rory was a hypothetical draw in Canada, which the UFC seems to be lacking.

Surprised to see him go, but less surprised than when Bendo left.

I think Davis is a great fighter and underrated, but Rory is definitely more Benson than Davis and a bigger deal than both IMO. Rory has a dominant win over the current ufc ww champion. He's also 27 years old whereas Phil and Benson are in their 30s.

[CPT]

People are talking Koreshkov, Lima, etc. but I actually hope they give Rory a little bit of a break and give him an easier fight to start, maybe a guy like Paul Daley (to hide the fact that they are giving him an easy fight to the casuals).

Rory's opponent list in the ufc has been insanity - Wonderboy, Lawlerx2, Saffiedine, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, Condit, Diaz

For a guy who has taken some beatings lately and may already be a bit shopworn, giving him Daley might be riskier than it needs to be.

I know Daley isn't particularly good, but what he is good at is what Rory doesn't need right now.

[Bernman]

Have him fight Andre Fialho, then. He's a no-name. That means no worries.

If you're looking for a tune-up, rest for Rory's brain, but a guy who doesn't overly suck, someone like Andre Santos would work.

Maybe Nando Gonzalez, but the reach/size advantage would be stark, and he's always the guy bandied about for MVP's step up.

Bellator's ww division is imbalanced, so it's hard to find a match-up for this purpose. They have a few killers at the top, a few dangerous prospects, and not much else. That's why Daley is not a bad shout, even though he could hurt Rory if he lands.

Alexander Shlemenko would be fun, and Rory would have plenty of outs there for an easier fight, just like the Daley one. But if he doesn't get him down or keep his distance, he could start to get tattooed, like the Daley fight.

[Susan]

When's Askren a FA again? That'd be a freaking awesome fight.

[REDDzone]

People are talking Koreshkov, Lima, etc. but I actually hope they give Rory a little bit of a break and give him an easier fight to start, maybe a guy like Paul Daley (to hide the fact that they are giving him an easy fight to the casuals).

Rory's opponent list in the ufc has been insanity - Wonderboy, Lawlerx2, Saffiedine, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, Condit, Diaz

For a guy who has taken some beatings lately and may already be a bit shopworn, giving him Daley might be riskier than it needs to be.

I know Daley isn't particularly good, but what he is good at is what Rory doesn't need right now.

Firas is a genius and Daley has one shot that could take Rory out, don't see it being very risky tbh.

I think Koreshkov/Lima are more risky because they are better fighters in general. Not sure if his first fight will be against someone nobody knows about although this is Coker so who knows. He could be fighting Cody McKenzie for all we know.

[REDDzone]

When's Askren a FA again? That'd be a freaking awesome fight.

The fact that Maia had Rory taken down and mounted within 4 seconds doesn't bode well for Rory there tbh.

[CPT]

People are talking Koreshkov, Lima, etc. but I actually hope they give Rory a little bit of a break and give him an easier fight to start, maybe a guy like Paul Daley (to hide the fact that they are giving him an easy fight to the casuals).

Rory's opponent list in the ufc has been insanity - Wonderboy, Lawlerx2, Saffiedine, Woodley, Maia, Ellenberger, Penn, Condit, Diaz

For a guy who has taken some beatings lately and may already be a bit shopworn, giving him Daley might be riskier than it needs to be.

I know Daley isn't particularly good, but what he is good at is what Rory doesn't need right now.

Firas is a genius and Daley has one shot that could take Rory out, don't see it being very risky tbh.

I think Koreshkov/Lima are more risky because they are better fighters in general.

Oh I agree those are bigger risks, I'm just not sure about the idea that they'd be giving him a break by giving him Daley.

You might be right that he's the best balance between risk and name recognition though. It would seem like a legit fight, even if Daley only has a puncher's chance.

[Bernman]

Incidentally, MVP was just matched up with Nando Gonzalez at 163. That's a solid step up for him, and takes away 1-2 of the viable possibilities for Rory.

I think Rory probably loses most of the time to each of MVP, Koreshkov, and Lima. MVP has the tricky movement like Wonderboy, while Lima and Koreshkov pick shots just as well as Rory, while being able to fight just as good as or better at distance, and can't be taken down easily. I think the perception they could is skewed because Askren is the best wrestler in the sport, they were young and dumb, and Lima had no cartilage in his knee for the Koreshkov fight itself. Bellator's ww division at the top is very strong and underrated, like their lw division was. Eddie was their #3 in reality behind Brooks and Chandler, now he's UFC's #1. 145 at the top would be very competitive with the UFC's top. And 135 has a couple 2-3 guys who would be contenders. Bellator amassed talent under 185 during the tourney days, due to how good of deals those were for top prospect, and they haven't lost a lot that talent.

[Bernman]

Rory said he's not fighting again until well into 2017, possibly even into summer.