After failed negotiations with UFC, Rory Mac to test free agency

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald will return to the octagon in June when he headlines UFC Fight Night 89 in Ottawa opposite surging contender Stephen Thompson.

“The Red King” has not competed since his “fight of the year” battle with Robbie Lawler at this past July’s UFC 189 event in Las Vegas.

MacDonald joined host Ariel Helwani on today’s edition of the MMA Hour where he revealed his plans to test the free agent market following his June scrap with “Wonderboy”. His words:

“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.”

MacDonald told Helwani that he reevaluated the financial side of things following his title fight loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 189. Rory made a disclosed $59,000 that night in Las Vegas and also earned “fight of the night” honors for his epic war with the “Ruthless” one.

“The experience itself, the fight was great. I loved it. It was a great thing for me and my martial arts career,” MacDonald said. “But, you know, a performance like that and everything I did leading up to it in my career with the UFC, I feel like I should be left a little bit more financially stable. I still make good money, but I still feel that I was worth more. That I brought more to the table than what I really got.

“So I just have to really fight for what is right, on the business side now. And I guess getting to that point, to the world title and stuff, after a hard fight like that, it just opened my eyes to it. Okay, now it’s time to get a little more business savvy rather than just do whatever just to get to the big fight.”

Do you think the UFC will be able to come to terms with Rory? Or will MacDonald follow in the footsteps of Matt Mitrione, Benson Henderson and Josh Thomson and join Bellator? Sound off Penn Nation!