ARLINGTON, Texas – Although Rory MacDonald has seen mixed results since his memorable war with Robbie Lawler, he insists that he’s in peak condition.
MacDonald (22-8-1) was stopped by Lawler in the fifth round of their 2015 title fight at UFC 189 where he broke his nose and sustained an incredible amount of damage in the Fight of the Year. Since then, MacDonald has gone 4-5-1 in 10 fights, but the 32-year-old former Bellator champion doesn’t feel like he’s mentally or physically slowed down ahead of his second PFL season.
“I understand someone could say that. I mean, that was a crazy fight,” MacDonald told MMA Junkie and other reporters at 2022 PFL 3 media day on Wednesday. “I felt like I was in a car accident after it, but I’m thankful to God that I’m extremely healthy. And mentally, physically, I feel very blessed to have been in this crew for so long and feel like a very healthy individual compared to a lot of friends who have been in this sport for as long. I couldn’t be happier with my physical condition.”
MacDonald, a former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion, has learned from last season’s mistakes where he was eliminated by eventual champion Ray Cooper III in the semifinals. He meets Brett Cooper (28-15) at 2022 PFL 3, which takes place Friday at Esports Stadium.
“I just need to get back on my horse,” MacDonald said. “Not my first time being down in the pits in this career. It is challenging to lose that bad, and it sucks. It could be very motivating, and you get a lot of outside voices start coming in, and it’s not nice, but you gotta be a strong person to take that and keep going with what you believe in and pursue my dream.
“And I did all that I could to fix the mistakes by making sure that I’ve prepared to go in there and be at my best this year, and I’m here feeling my very best. I’ve never felt better, so I’m looking to show that out there this Friday.”
Rory MacDonald rejects notion that 2015 Robbie Lawler war changed him: ‘I’m extremely healthy’
