"Thank you for all the amazing fights you have given us legend"- Fans and fighters tip their hat to the legendary career of Rory MacDonald
Rory MacDonald has made the decision to retire after a legendary career in mixed martial arts. MacDonald, a former UFC fighter and Bellator welterweight champion, finished his career with a 23-10-1 record. After starting with a record of 18-2, the second half of his career has been far less successful.
MacDonald's retirement wasn't all too surprising to some. Immediately after the fight, fellow former Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren suggested that MacDonald could be done and should look for another profession. He posted on Twitter:
"Damn PFLhas been rough for Rory, drops another one. I know he isn't that old, but prob time for him to find another professional."
Damn PFL has been rough for Rory, drops another one. I know he isn’t that old, but prob time for him to find another professional.
Following Rory MacDonald's announcement, reactions came in from all corners of the world, including mixed martial arts manager Ali Abdelaziz.
"Thank you for all the amazing fight you have given us legend."
@rory_macdonald Thank you for all the amazing fight you have given us legand
Rory MacDonald retired from MMA today. Canadian icon of the sport who had one of the greatest fights of all time against Robbie Lawler. Wish him all the best. Was a contender in the UFC, a champ in Bellator & finished his career in PFL. Maybe 2nd best Canadian fighter behind GSP. https://t.co/Q4meLIoDy2
Happy retirement to former @BellatorMMA Champion @Rory_Macdonald. An absolute warrior. https://t.co/5BqXCNht9C
Rory MacDonald joins Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Zabit Magomedsharipov, Donald Cerrone, James Krause, Uriah Hall, Nina Nunes, Jessica Eye, Eddie Wineland as some of the names to recently retire – and that's just this summer. twitter.com/MMAJunkie/stat…
Congrats on an amazing career, @rory_macdonald. True Canadian MMA legend who was always such a pleasure to watch and cover. Few can dream of having a run as long as he had. 17 years! Massive respect. For how he fought but more importantly how he conducted himself. Thank you. 🇨🇦
Congrats on an amazing career @rory_macdonald twitter.com/mmafighting/st…
Rory MacDonald is the same age as Israel Adesanya and two years younger than Jose Aldo. Fight years are a brutal, brutal thing.
Rory MacDonald is 33 years old.
He's been competing in MMA since he was 16 years old. That's more than half of his life.
It's difficult to keep the fire alive for that long. https://t.co/G5dqOS6TVq
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✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 @rory_macdonald Thanks for all the moments! Enjoy your time with the family! twitter.com/MMAFighting/st…
Is Rory MacDonald No. 2 on the Canadian MMA Mount Rushmore?
Bellator champ. One round away from being UFC champ. GOAT fight. Wins over Diaz, Penn, Ellenberger, Maia, Lima, Daley and prime Woodley. Feels like we lost some of what could've been but still a very impressive career.
The reactions to Rory MacDonald's retirement show just how respected he is in the fighting world. Outside of his Bellator championship, he is known for having one of the greatest fights in UFC history.
His championship fight against Robbie Lawler is widely considered the greatest fight in welterweight history. MacDonald was winning three rounds to one on all three scorecards at the time of his fifth-round knockout loss. The two fighters' hospital picture (shown above) following the fight shows the level of respect that was gained following such an impressive fight.
Unfortunately for MacDonald, his career was never the same afterwards. Despite winning the Bellator championship less than three years after the loss, MacDonald would only win five total fights over the final seven years of his career.
Should Rory MacDonald's UFC 189 fight with Robbie Lawler be in the Hall of Fame?
Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler initially met at UFC 167. Lawler won the three-round fight via split decision. Less than two years after their first encounter, the two fighters met again for a rematch at UFC 189. This time, however, there was much more on the line as Lawler entered as the welterweight champion.
MacDonald entered the fifth and final round simply needing to survive the round as he was up three rounds to one on all three judges scorecards. MacDonald, for the first time in his career seemed to run out of gas in that fifth round.
To this day, the fight is considered one of the greatest fights in UFC history. With MacDonald now retired and no longer competing for other promotions, the fight should be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing. It is arguably the greatest fight in UFC history, and easily the greatest fight that hasn't been inducted.
Greatest fight in UFC history!?
#OnThisDay in 2015, Lawler-MacDonald 2 ⤵️ https://t.co/Is5EC7Pcxa
Although MacDonald may not have been the same fighter afterwards, he deserves to be honored for a battle that captivated fans of the sport. Now, in retirement, MacDonald may finally get that honor.