Bellator 222 | Pros react to Rory MacDonald beating Neiman Gracie to retain welterweight title

In the main event of Bellator 222, Rory MacDonald was looking to defend his welterweight title against undefeated jiu-jitsu star, Neiman Gracie. It was also the semi-finals of the welterweight Grand Prix where the winner would take on Douglas Lima.

But, the major question going into the fight, is how Rory MacDonald would perform. After his performance against Jon Fitch he wasn’t sure if had the desire to hurt anyone anymore.

“God has really called me the last little while. He’s changed my spirit, changed my heart,” MacDonald said. “It takes a certain spirit to come in here and put a man through pain and stuff. I just don’t know if I have that same drive to hurt people anymore. I don’t know what it is. It’s confusing. But I know the Lord has something in store for me. He was speaking to me in here tonight. It’s a different feeling.”

“I don’t have that killer inside,” Rory MacDonald later added. “It’s really hard to explain. I hesitate a little bit now. I don’t know what to say. It wasn’t my best performance.”

Rory MacDonald ended up putting that past him and looked composed in there tonight against Gracie. He had the advantage on the feet and was picking the jiu-jitsu ace apart. But, Gracie got a few submission attempts in, however, the champion had tremendous submission defense to stop them. In the end, MacDonald dominated the first four rounds and although he lost the fifth, he didn’t let Gracie do much at all.

It was a tremendous performance for the Canadian as he wins by unanimous decision and will take on Douglas Lima in the finals

Pros react to Rory MacDonald beating Neiman Gracie

Rory… Jesus wants violence!

— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) June 15, 2019

Roy McDonald is so technical and smooth on the feet. One of cleanest jabs in MMA !

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 15, 2019

Easy win for Rory

— . (@ChasSkelly) June 15, 2019

https://twitter.com/jonfitchdotnet/status/1139757354394824704

That didn’t look healthy for the ol knee for Rory 😬 #bellator

— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) June 15, 2019

That's one way to neutralise #jiujitsu… #Bellator222

— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 15, 2019

What do you think of the performance from Rory MacDonald against Neiman Gracie to defend his Bellator welterweight  title? Sound off in the comments section, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/14/2019.