Best Rory MacDonald UFC Fights

min read
Robbie Lawler, left, fights Rory MacDonald during their welterweight title fight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 189 Saturday.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
Anatoly Pimentel @AnatolyPimentel Jun 24, 2024, 7:38 PM
  • Rory MacDonald is one of the greatest Canadian MMA fighters of all time.
  • MacDonald had an MMA record of 23 wins, 10 losses, and one draw.
  • MacDonald’s second fight with Robbie Lawler was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Rory MacDonald is one of the best UFC fighters from Canada, aside from Georges St-Pierre. He became one of the most beloved athletes in the promotion because of his exciting fight style, which produced all-time classic matches.

MacDonald finished his professional career with 23 wins, 10 losses, and a draw, but left his mark on the sport. Before hanging up the gloves, he was a household name in online sports betting, especially in the UFC odds.

Here’s a list of his top UFC bouts that cemented his legacy as one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion’s history:

Best Rory MacDonald UFC Fights

FightDateEvent
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Guymon01/12/2010UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz
Rory MacDonald vs. BJ Penn12/09/2012UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz
Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia02/23/2014UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann
Rory MacDonald vs. Tyron Woodley06/15/2014UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov
Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler 207/12/2015UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor

Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Guymon – UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz

When McDonald was signed by the UFC in 2010, he had plenty of expectations to perform well because he had a perfect record of nine wins with a 100% finish rate outside of the promotion. He was also the former KOTC champion.

But all the pressure was relieved when MacDonald won his first match under the UFC banner when he submitted fellow debutant Mike Guymon via armbar in the opening round of their match in January 2010. It was the beginning of his incredible run in the promotion.

Rory MacDonald vs. BJ Penn – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz

BJ Penn was one of the most savage fighters in the UFC and was the former lightweight champion when he squared off against MacDonald in December 2012. Although Penn was already at the tail end of his professional career, he was still a dangerous contender.

MacDonald, however, wasn’t intimated by the stacked resume of “The Prodigy” and instead showed that he could beat the top contenders in the division. It was a dominant performance for the Canadian superstar, who was awarded the unanimous decision.

Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia – UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann

In February 2014, MacDonald was pitted against an elite grappler, Demian Maia, in a crucial matchup with championship implications. Although “The Red King” was known for his submission skills, Maia was the superior grappler heading into the match.

As expected, the Brazilian used his grappling skills to nullify MacDonald’s elite striking, but the Canadian defended all Maia’s submission attempts and dominated him up on the feet with his volume of strikes to eke out the unanimous decision.

Rory MacDonald vs. Tyron Woodley – UFC 174: Johnson vs. Bagautinov

Following his victory over Maia, MacDonald was matched with a fellow striker, Tyron Woodley, in his next fight in June 2014. Woodley was a rising star after winning three of his first four fights in the promotion, including stoppage victories over Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit.

However, MacDonald delayed his ascent to the top of the division by outstriking him throughout their fight en route to a favourable result from judges’ scorecards for the unanimous decision.

Rory MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler 2 – UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor

MacDonald’s lone UFC title opportunity happened in July 2015 when he challenged Robbie Lawler for the welterweight championship. It was their second meeting after Lawler came away with a close split decision in November 2013.

This was a back-and-forth match that saw both fighters covered in blood, but MacDonald had an outstanding performance against “Ruthless” and was up in the judges’ scorecards heading into the fight’s final round.

But disaster struck in the fifth round when Lawler pulled off an impressive comeback against MacDonald, delivering the TKO finish to retain his championship. Despite coming up short of becoming a UFC champion, this MacDonald fight was immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame.

About the Author

Anatoly Pimentel

Read More @AnatolyPimentel

Anatoly Pimentel is an NBA and MMA writer previously featured in ASEAN Sports, Asian Persuasion MMA, and Overtime Heroics MMA. He graduated from Adamson University with B.A in Communication and is currently a Web Content Writer for BetMGM.

Anatoly Pimentel is an NBA and MMA writer previously featured in ASEAN Sports, Asian Persuasion MMA, and Overtime Heroics MMA. He graduated from Adamson University with B.A in Communication and is currently a Web Content Writer for BetMGM.