Rory McDonald on MMAHour, Free Agency Announcment

[Gibberish]

Rory MacDonald has been stuck on the sidelines since July, when he competed opposite UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in one of the greatest fights of the sport's young history. However that inactivity hasn't been by choice.

MacDonald revealed Monday on The MMA Hour that his time on the shelf has been the result of a lengthy -- and ultimately failed -- negotiation period with the UFC, as his upcoming June 18 bout against Stephen Thompson represents the last fight of his current UFC contract. And with talks having reached a standstill, "The Red King" made his intentions clear: one of the world's best welterweights is "very willing" to test the free agency waters once his contract ends after UFC Fight Night 89.

"I want to make the most money I can. I want to get paid for what I bring to the table," MacDonald said. "I've sacrificed a lot to get to the top, to the world title. I really sacrificed, and I took a lot of chances. I did a lot of favors, I felt like, for the UFC and I don't think it got returned. So now it's all about making money, and whoever wants to pay me the most is where I'll go."

LINK: After failed negotiations with UFC, Rory MacDonald expects to become free agent

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I've rarely been angrier with the UFC having just listened to Rory. They are making him test free fucking agency??

Perfect example of them not having a clue how to build someone. He is a fucking superstar since the Lawlor fight. Treat him like one.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Rory will stay with the UFC. He doesn't fit the model of guys that they are letting go. He's 26 and has already had a hell of a shot at the title. They won't let that walk.

 

[La Paix]

I've rarely been angrier with the UFC having just listened to Rory. They are making him test free fucking agency??

Perfect example of them not having a clue how to build someone. He is a fucking superstar since the Lawlor fight. Treat him like one.

I haven't listened yet but does it sound like they are just looking to offer him the same or a dollar more than Bellator or whoever? UFC doesn't want to offer first?

 

[Bryant Maness]

Huge mistake if they let him go. Rory is one of the greatest fighters in the business right now.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Rory will stay with the UFC. He doesn't fit the model of guys that they are letting go. He's 26 and has already had a hell of a shot at the title. They won't let that walk.

They let Phil Davis and Benson Henderson go- they're not 26, but not exactly dinosaurs either.

 

[KWingJitsu]

Cliffs? Is he not fighting Wonderboy?

 

[Deleted member 1]

This is just the UFC fixing future anti trust arguments right?

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

They let Phil Davis and Benson Henderson go- they're not 26, but not exactly dinosaurs either.

Davis was never going to win the title and never had a huge following, and Benson was completely out of title conversation in both divisions that he fights in. It isn't all about age. I didn't call the Phil Davis one because it happened so early, but since Benson all of their FA dealings have been pretty easy to call. Rory stays.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

This is just the UFC fixing future anti trust arguments right?

I doubt it. I'd say this is fighters realizing they can bid UFC and Bellator against each other and get more $$$

 

[Punch]

Whatever it takes to get U Fight Cheap to open up the purse strings and actually pay their fighters what they're worth, I'm down for.

 

[kneeblock]

I for one hope he goes. He's young and has a lot of career left. If he goes now, he gets to see what he can build elsewhere and I'm sure he can come back if he likes later. He's 0-2 against the current champ and if GSP ever comes back and wins the title, he'll never get his hands on it.

Bellator would be smart to throw the kitchen sink at him.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

I for one hope he goes. He's young and has a lot of career left. If he goes now, he gets to see what he can build elsewhere and I'm sure he can come back if he likes later. He's 0-2 against the current champ and if GSP ever comes back and wins the title, he'll never get his hands on it.

Bellator would be smart to throw the kitchen sink at him.

If they didn't go hard after Aljo (and they didnt), they won't compete for Rory.

 

[PeteyParker]

I don't know why you would be pissed. Not surprised at all he rarely talks, look at some examples Aldo after the Mendes and Hunt vs BigFoot. The UFC can't promote what can't be pushed.

I respect and like Mighty Mouse and Aldo but they never we're stars or got huge amounts of money. If they're main goal is to show up and fight, that's all you should expect. MMA is not a legit sport yet it's like 80% entertainment and 20% Competition. it's been proven time and time the people who get paid or who the UFC pushed are fighters with personality and make people root against or for them.

Do i think Rory should get tons of money? of course, but reality is reality. The UFC give title shots when they aren't warranted lots of times. This to me seems almost normal UFC behavior.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Davis was never going to win the title and never had a huge following, and Benson was completely out of title conversation in both divisions that he fights in. It isn't all about age. I didn't call the Phil Davis one because it happened so early, but since Benson all of their FA dealings have been pretty easy to call. Rory stays.

You can't say "he was never going to win the title"- most of the people holding belts in the UFC now have had that said to them and let it fall on deaf ears and won it anyways (congrats again Miesha )

And Benson was hardly out of title contention in either division- his only losses in LW were to Pettis (former champ) RDA (current champ) and Cerrone (peoples champ) and he had just started fighting at WW, going 2-0.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

If they didn't go hard after Aljo (and they didnt), they won't compete for Rory.

Apples and oranges. Aljo had never headlined a show- Rory has and was 1/2 of the greatest fight the UFC has ever had, maybe the greatest ever.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

You can't say "he was never going to win the title"- most of the people holding belts in the UFC now have had that said to them and let it fall on deaf ears and won it anyways (congrats again Miesha )

And Benson was hardly out of title contention in either division- his only losses in LW were to Pettis (former champ) RDA (current champ) and Cerrone (peoples champ) and he had just started fighting at WW, going 2-0.

I never said that Benson was out of contention. I said he was out of the conversation. It doesn't matter that he has the skill to contend. He does. The problem was that nobody (and I mean absolutely nobody) was mentioning him when listing the contenders in those divisions.

Davis's ranking commanded a higher price than he was worth, especially for a guy that at least in my opinion has absolutely nothing for Jon Jones. You're right that anything can happen, but Davis really wasn't worth much to the UFC at all.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

Apples and oranges. Aljo had never headlined a show- Rory has and was 1/2 of the greatest fight the UFC has ever had, maybe the greatest ever.

Which is why Bellator won't touch him. They didn't even go after a guy that is obviously top 5 but probably carries a lower value because he doesn't have the two things that you listed that Rory has.

How about this- give me your odds. Currently I'll put Rory at 90-10 to stay with the UFC. I have been wrong before, and I've certainly been wrong about things that I was this sure about, but I'd like to see where you're at.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

Which is why Bellator won't touch him. They didn't even go after a guy that is obviously top 5 but probably carries a lower value because he doesn't have the two things that you listed that Rory has.

How about this- give me your odds. Currently I'll put Rory at 90-10 to stay with the UFC. I have been wrong before, and I've certainly been wrong about things that I was this sure about, but I'd like to see where you're at.

I'd say it's at least 70-30. I think Bellator will make an offer that the UFC will match, but I could also see them being arrogant enough to think that he's expendable.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

I'd say it's at least 70-30. I think Bellator will make an offer that the UFC will match, but I could also see them being arrogant enough to think that he's expendable.

That's all very reasonably conceivable. I wouldn't be shocked if he got an offer, I just don't ultimately think that Bellator will have a chance.

 

[kneeblock]

If they didn't go hard after Aljo (and they didnt), they won't compete for Rory.

Aljo isn't the needle mover Rory is. He will be someday, but he isn't yet.

 

[TheEmperorRises]

That's all very reasonably conceivable. I wouldn't be shocked if he got an offer, I just don't ultimately think that Bellator will have a chance.

They landed Benson and at least had talks with Overeems people (if you believe Coker and I do).

If Bellator throws him a huge offer, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he accepts.

Something else to consider would be how close he is with GSP and the way the UFC has treated him. You know Rory has paid close attention to that and can't feel good about it.

 

[kneeblock]

@Andrewsimar Palhardass they just picked up Mitrione.

If you're offering 90-10 odds, we can put paper on it.

If an offer is made, I say Rory goes because Zuffa won't match. If there's no offer, bet is cancelled.

I put down $20 at 9-1 odds. My 20 gets your 180.

 

[Silverball]

$50,000 a fight.

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

@Andrewsimar Palhardass they just picked up Mitrione.

If you're offering 90-10 odds, we can put paper on it.

If an offer is made, I say Rory goes because Zuffa won't match. If there's no offer, bet is cancelled.

I put down $20 at 9-1 odds. My 20 gets your 180.

Yes they did pick up Mitrione, and I've been saying they would for weeks. That one was clear. I'm not going to bet you, but Zuffa will match and he will accept, in my opinion. Why would the bet have been canceled if there was no offer? Haha

 

[Andrewsimar Palhardass]

They landed Benson and at least had talks with Overeems people (if you believe Coker and I do).

If Bellator throws him a huge offer, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he accepts.

Something else to consider would be how close he is with GSP and the way the UFC has treated him. You know Rory has paid close attention to that and can't feel good about it.

UFC wasn't goingoing to let Overeem go because he is in the immediate title picture. Rory is also there and is 26. He stays.