Rory MacDonald Signs With Bellator

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SuperPig

Enjoy yourselves
Aug 7, 2015
30,979
51,737
Because the marketing machine wasn't fully promoting him in the way they do Sage Northcutt and pre-Rose loss PVZ.
He's not as pretty and never does any cool flips.
In case you haven't noticed, outside of champs, the UFC doesn't go out of it's way to market people who don't make themselves marketable. If you give them something to work with then your name and face will be everywhere even if you have losses on your record. Just look at Chael as an example of that. If you have a mouth, a look, a gimmick that helps make their job easier then you'll have a chance at getting a push. If not, you'll get a nudge if you're a fantastic fighter like Rory. I sometimes feel like the marketing department watched Jerry Maguire too many times and only knows one thing:

 

DFW4L

15 events before the end of 2016 - YOU'RE WELCOME!
Mar 23, 2016
2,111
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part of the problem with the ufcs view on canada is that they do not understand us or how big we are. the put rory on a card in halifax., halifax is 5000km away from rorys home town.they look at it as he headlined a card in canada so canada should be happy.he needed to be on vancouver and calgary cards. we are closer to mexico than to toronto out west.i hope bellator does a few canadian shows in the next years . vancouver edmonton montreal and toronto would do well. for some reason the ufc decided that halifax and saskatoon were a good idea.i do not know why
Do you now if Bellator is on delay to west Canada?

It is to west coast U.S cable carriers
 

BrunoMcGyver

Bruno no dey carry last
Dec 30, 2015
6,395
10,265
He's not as pretty and never does any cool flips.
In case you haven't noticed, outside of champs, the UFC doesn't go out of it's way to market people who don't make themselves marketable. If you give them something to work with then your name and face will be everywhere even if you have losses on your record. Just look at Chael as an example of that. If you have a mouth, a look, a gimmick that helps make their job easier then you'll have a chance at getting a push. If not, you'll get a nudge if you're a fantastic fighter like Rory. I sometimes feel like the marketing department watched Jerry Maguire too many times and only knows one thing:

I see your point, but I'm not entirely convinced man.

Rory was dressing dapper (although I admit he didn't really pull it off well and came off more like Patrick Bateman more than Harvey Specter) before Conor Mcgregor was even signed by the UFC.

I remember after that BJ Penn his post-fight interview was just one big 'F you' and call out to Carlos Condit, who Rory was eager to try and avenge his loss to.

He's young, an awesome scrapper (Ellenberger snoozefest fight aside) and seemingly very Canadian. Sure he's not like Conor, who could be marketed well even if he was an accountant, but there's a lot there that can be marketed well to the Canadian audience, imo.

Would it ever get to GSP levels? Probably not, but it could easily get to the point where more Canadians are wtaching him fight on Bellator.
 

Clappin'Daddys

Posting Machine
Sep 9, 2015
2,529
3,565
part of the problem with the ufcs view on canada is that they do not understand us or how big we are. the put rory on a card in halifax., halifax is 5000km away from rorys home town.they look at it as he headlined a card in canada so canada should be happy.he needed to be on vancouver and calgary cards. we are closer to mexico than to toronto out west.i hope bellator does a few canadian shows in the next years . vancouver edmonton montreal and toronto would do well. for some reason the ufc decided that halifax and saskatoon were a good idea.i do not know why
Wow it's crazy to think that Mexico is closer to macdonalds hometown in Canada than where they had the event. talk about perspective.

You make a very solid point tho. It's not as easy as being Mac to Canada and watch the money come in. It would be like taking a New York based fighter to the Deep South and wondering why he isn't drawing. "He's American after all".

I'm curious to see how the handle Rory. Best case scenario would be to bring him home, give him one or two matches to get some wins in, and then fight Doug or Andrey for the belt.

Bellator isn't in the wasting money business; they have something up their sleeves.
 

ECC170

Monster's 11,ATM 2,Parlay Challenge,Hero GP Champ
Pro Fighter
Jan 23, 2015
14,376
23,677
He's not as pretty and never does any cool flips.
In case you haven't noticed, outside of champs, the UFC doesn't go out of it's way to market people who don't make themselves marketable. If you give them something to work with then your name and face will be everywhere even if you have losses on your record. Just look at Chael as an example of that. If you have a mouth, a look, a gimmick that helps make their job easier then you'll have a chance at getting a push. If not, you'll get a nudge if you're a fantastic fighter like Rory. I sometimes feel like the marketing department watched Jerry Maguire too many times and only knows one thing:

you're right..Rory looks like Jason Vorhees without the mask..the only thing he did that urks me is the whole modeling fantasy be has..the dudes as ugly as he's talented and that's one VERY talented dude...
 
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Gibberish

Posting Machine
Dec 2, 2015
1,318
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Should have been UFC royalty after the Lawler fight. Instead here we are. I don't know why you wouldn't want to pay a guy like Rory. Disgusting.
 

Carbazel

Freelance MMA Analyst
Aug 8, 2015
641
902
Anyone think he's going to get a title shot out of the gate like Henderson did?
 

SuperPig

Enjoy yourselves
Aug 7, 2015
30,979
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Yeah- I haven't seen anything yet to prove otherwise.
She is a 3 and 0 fighter who's wins were against people that are a combined 1 and 4. I'm not discrediting her here just pointing out the fact that she's still super green in MMA and has been fighting even greener opponents. Other than her looks, it's too early to call her legit anything yet.

I also feel the same way about all of the nasty wrestlers that they've signed that still haven't had a fight yet. Until they get punched in the face by someone that wants to propel their own career it's just a lot of hype for nothing.

I'm not a pessimist just very pragmatic.
 

TheEmperorRises

Right click hospital, left click cemetery
Dec 4, 2015
7,638
14,748
She is a 3 and 0 fighter who's wins were against people that are a combined 1 and 4. I'm not discrediting her here just pointing out the fact that she's still super green in MMA and has been fighting even greener opponents. Other than her looks, it's too early to call her legit anything yet.

I also feel the same way about all of the nasty wrestlers that they've signed that still haven't had a fight yet. Until they get punched in the face by someone that wants to propel their own career it's just a lot of hype for nothing.

I'm not a pessimist just very pragmatic.
They're bringing her up slowly, yes, because as you said- she's still new to MMA, coming over from kick boxing. But she's young, she's skilled, and she's good looking. Which we can pretend doesn't matter, or admit it does and is the sole reason Ronda is in Buweiser commercials and movies and Cyborg isn't.

As far as the wrestlers go- unprovenso far, yes. But if elite level wrestling is their start off point, I like their chances to become great.
 
P

Punch

Guest
Yeah- I haven't seen anything yet to prove otherwise.
She is a 3 and 0 fighter who's wins were against people that are a combined 1 and 4. I'm not discrediting her here just pointing out the fact that she's still super green in MMA and has been fighting even greener opponents. Other than her looks, it's too early to call her legit anything yet.

I also feel the same way about all of the nasty wrestlers that they've signed that still haven't had a fight yet. Until they get punched in the face by someone that wants to propel their own career it's just a lot of hype for nothing.

I'm not a pessimist just very pragmatic.
Imma do y'all a solid. :D

 

bully4me

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2015
466
669
I really like Rory, unique character in the sport, great fighter...

but young in age only, dudes been in the game competitively for 12 years at age 27 and took about 15 fights worth of damage in his last 5, sat out a year and seemed to not care much when he came back after that Lawler fight - thats not fight young
Rory was wanting to come back earlier than he did. First time he was sparring to soon and broke his nose again. Second time a fight was in the works and the UFC pulled his opponent for another fight. I wouldn't say "..seemed not to care much after the Lawler fight" .

Personally I think there is three reasons why the UFC didn't match the offer from Bellator. One: Rory was outspoken about fighter pay and union talk. Two: After the broken nose in the Lawler fight he did have issues with it breaking again in training, then again in the Wonderboy fight. Right after that fight he didn't help himself saying he wasn't sure what he could do about it (referring to the nose). This could be an issue in the future as far as the UFC is concerned. Three: Keeping Bellator honest with their bids. If every time a fighter tests free agency and Bellator makes a bid where the UFC matches it. Bellator could inflate bids on fighters knowing the UFC won't let anyone of value go. By giving up the occasional fighter it keeps Bellator honest in the UFC's opinion. That's just simple buisness practice.

Personally I'm disappointed with the UFC. Rory has given them a lot, is the #2 WW ranked in the world. More fans know him now after the FOTY with Lawler than they did before and they could have afforded to pay him. He IS a draw, in Ottawa the UFC sold out in a few hours with him headlining. MacDonald is also the biggest name and ranked fighter from Canada, which has been a HUGE supporting country of the UFC for years (keeping in mind GSP isn't back yet). Being a Canadian fan I'm very dissapointed in the UFC, just as a Brit Fan would be if Bisping left or a Swedish Fan and they let Gus slip away. It makes me wonder if GSP wasn't so close to a deal if the UFC would've let Rory go. To me the biggest disappointment with this entire situation is Rory, I was lucky enough to spend time with him as he invited me to a UFC party in Vegas a couple of years back. He spoke how all he ever wanted was to fight in the UFC and become a UFC Champion. Obviosly those dreams still must be there but being a new father and like most of us, doing what is financially sound for our family comes first. I really hope he becomes a Great Champion with Bellator and the UFC realizes their mistake.