Rory MacDonald explains PFL move as he targets final chapter of elite MMA career
Rory MacDonald says his decision to join the Professional Fighters League was driven by timing, structure and a clear end goal — not frustration or reinvention.
Rory MacDonald says he joined the PFL because it offers a clear competitive path and the opportunity to finish his career on his own terms.
The former Bellator welterweight champion will be in attendance at the Hulu Theater inside Madison Square Garden on New Year’s Eve, watching the PFL welterweight championship bout with a long-term objective in mind: returning to that same stage as a finalist himself.
Why MacDonald chose the PFL over Bellator and the UFC
After falling short in the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix final, MacDonald entered free agency at a crossroads point in his career. Still competitive, still relevant, but no longer interested in uncertainty.
The PFL’s season-based format appealed to him immediately. Unlike traditional MMA promotions built around matchmaking and promotion cycles, the league offers a defined schedule, standings-based progression and a championship structure that removes subjectivity.
For MacDonald, that clarity mattered.
Rather than relying on hype or timing, advancement in the PFL is determined strictly by performance. Fighters know their opponents, potential paths and incentives months in advance — an approach MacDonald believes better suits experienced veterans.
A career shaped by elite competition
MacDonald’s résumé spans nearly every level of elite mixed martial arts. Before joining Bellator, he compiled a strong run in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, earning victories over high-profile opponents including Nate Diaz, B.J. Penn, Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley.
His move to Bellator in 2016 marked a resurgence. He captured the welterweight title in 2018, briefly challenged himself at middleweight, and later reached the final of the promotion’s ambitious Grand Prix tournament.
That run, however, was not without personal difficulty. A draw with Jon Fitch in 2019 prompted MacDonald to publicly question his relationship with violence and competition — a moment that resonated widely across the MMA world.
Finding clarity — and momentum — again
Later that same year, MacDonald rebounded both mentally and competitively. He returned with a dominant win over Neiman Gracie to secure his place in the Grand Prix final, proving to himself and others that he still belonged among the division’s elite.
Although he lost the final, the performance reaffirmed his belief that he still had meaningful fights left — provided the environment was right.
The PFL, he says, offers exactly that.
By removing promotional pressure and focusing on results, the format allows fighters to concentrate solely on preparation and execution. For MacDonald, that competitive purity is motivating rather than limiting.
Looking ahead, not back
Now 30, MacDonald views the next phase of his career as purposeful rather than prolonged. He has spoken about wanting to contribute to the PFL’s growth while remaining a central figure in its welterweight division.
More than titles or headlines, the goal is control — over schedule, legacy and the manner in which his career concludes.
As he watches this year’s PFL final from cageside, MacDonald is already envisioning a return not as a spectator, but as a contender intent on closing out his career with clarity and conviction.