UFC exec: 'We encourage' Rory to enter free agency

[Wild]

With UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald set to become a free agent after Saturday's main event against Stephen Thompson, UFC executive Tom Wright addressed the Canadian's impending negotiating period.

Tomorrow's UFC Fight Night 89 main event between Rory MacDonald and Stephen Thompson is a hugely important contest in the welterweight division, but the bigger storyline has everything to do with the future of MacDonald. This is the final fight of his current UFC contract, and as he's stated in the past, he intends to test the free agent market.

In a year which has seen Aljamain Sterling stay in the UFC, whereas Ben Henderson and Matt Mitrione headed to Bellator, free agency has been a major headline for the UFC over the past year. With MacDonald's future in the Octagon…


UFC exec on Rory MacDonald: 'We encourage him' to enter free agency

 

[benjo0101]

To be fair what else are they supposed to say? He's legitimately backed them into a corner. They have to say that.

Interested to see how this plays out. Can I travel down 2 wormholes? One where he wins, one where he loses?

 

[Bruham]

Interested to see how this plays out. Can I travel down 2 wormholes? One where he wins, one where he loses?

I actually want to see him win just to see him hold the UFC over the fire. Dude is the prototypical warrior, he should be paid whatever he wants.

 

[hit4me4]

I'm ready to see him fight on Friday nights!!!!

 

[Megatron Robinson]

War Rory

 

[Kingtony87]

Idk why everyone gets so uppity over this free agency stuff. Fighters should absolutely test the market. Figure out exactly what they are worth. Some are going to like it. Others are not. Is rory one, I truly don't know. He's a great fighter, moderately exciting if matched up right, but for some reason hasn't been able to capture a big fan following. By all reasoning he should of been able to get all of Canada behind him the way gsp did.

 

[Jonny Quest]

UFC encourages him... sure they do.

 

[Robbie Hart]

They encourage publically as anything other would hurt their case that is currently ongoing

 

[teamquestnorth]

Creepiest picture ever

 

[KWingJitsu]

What bitches.

How about "we value Rory as a top competitor and hope he stays with us".

They are selling so they DGAF about fighter pay.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

They encourage it because they already have a number in mind for him and they're not going to pay more than that. So if he goes somewhere else then in their eyes the competition overpaid and that will make them weaker in the long run when he doesn't boost ratings. Plus they still get to say that their champ finished him.

Either way, the best part is that Rory is going to end up getting as much money as he can so that's great regardless of where he ends up. And I'll still tune in to watch regardless of where it is. Unless it's OneFC because their cards are always at such shitty times for an American audience.

 

[Kingtony87]

They encourage it because they already have a number in mind for him and they're not going to pay more than that. So if he goes somewhere else then in their eyes the competition overpaid and that will make them weaker in the long run when he doesn't boost ratings. Plus they still get to say that their champ finished him.

Either way, the best part is that Rory is going to end up getting as much money as he can so that's great regardless of where he ends up. And I'll still tune in to watch regardless of where it is. Unless it's OneFC because their cards are always at such shitty times for an American audience.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

 

[ErikMagraken]

I encourage Rory to become familiar with this law and potentially open the UFC's books to determine his real market value
Did Nova Scotia Enforce Their Fighter Pay Rules at UFC Fight Night Halifax?

 

[Ballzy]

Here's how I hope it's gonna play out. Rory beats wonder boy. Signs for what he both deserves and is worth in another organization...starting an exodus of fighters from the ufc. Perhaps with the new ownership the ufc ups fighter pay and we the fan get to see better fights.
Here's to hoping...cheers

 

[pattitude]

Here's how I hope it's gonna play out. Rory beats wonder boy. Signs for what he both deserves and is worth in another organization...starting an exodus of fighters from the ufc. Perhaps with the new ownership the ufc ups fighter pay and we the fan get to see better fights.
Here's to hoping...cheers

I hope so, too.

 

[DFW4L]

By all reasoning he should of been able to get all of Canada behind him the way gsp did.

I think his outright lack of personality, good looks and charisma may have played a factor.

 

[The Big Guy]

negotiating just a little harder for rory

 

[jason73]

what does zuffa care if they are selling it in the next few weeks

 

[Wild]

negotiating just a little harder for rory

Still a Top 5 WW in the world. He's gonna get paid by someone IMO.

 

[The Big Guy]

Still a Top 5 WW in the world. He's gonna get paid by someone IMO.

I hope he gets paid good too. I really like rory but he seemed off tonight