Rory MacDonald retires from MMA
Former UFC welterweight title contender Rory MacDonald has announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts.
MacDonald’s wife Olivia took to her social media on Sunday to announce that her husband has retired from MMA. MacDonald suffered a brutal KO loss to Dilano Taylor at PFL 8 on Saturday, and after getting knocked out in the first round for the first time in his MMA career, he has made the decision to retire.
“So many emotions tonight. I ask that you be kind with your words. It’s been a wonderful journey to watch this man fight. Rory has hung up the gloves and very much at peace with it. To new beginnings. Thank you,” Olivia MacDonald wrote on her Instagram stories.
MacDonald later added a full statement on his own Instagram, where he officially confirmed his retirement from MMA.
MacDonald (23-10-1) made his professional MMA debut in 2005 at the age of 16 years old. He won the first nine fights of his MMA career by stoppage before behind signed by the UFC in 2010. He submitted Mike Guymon in his UFC debut, before losing via third-round TKO to Carlos Condit in his second fight in the Octagon. He then reeled off five straight wins, including victories over Nate Diaz and BJ Penn, before fighting Robbie Lawler in a title eliminator at UFC 167.
He lost that fight, but MacDonald won three straight after that to fight Lawler again, this time for the UFC welterweight title. They then rematched at UFC 189, and although MacDonald lost, it is considered by many fans as one of the greatest MMA fights of all time.
MacDonald would end up fighting for Bellator, where he won the promotion’s welterweight title, before finally finishing up his career in PFL. Overall, he had an amazing MMA career and is generally considered the second-best Canadian MMA fighter of all time behind Georges St-Pierre. He had an incredible run, and we here at MyMMANews.com loved watching him fight.
What was your favorite Rory MacDonald moment from his storied MMA career?
