About Rory MacDonald

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My journey into mixed martial arts began as a teenager. Growing up, I was deeply involved in hockey, but after moving to a new town, I struggled to find my place. That all changed when my father and brother introduced me to mixed martial arts. My brother had visited a local gym, Toshido Fighting Arts, and seeing my excitement, my dad signed me up. From the moment I stepped into the gym, I was hooked. I fell in love with the sport and dedicated myself entirely to training.

At the age of 16, I began competing in amateur tournaments in kickboxing, pankration, and no-gi jiu-jitsu. After gaining valuable experience, I turned professional at the age of 16, determined to reach the highest level of the sport. My goal was clear: I wanted to fight in the UFC.

At the age of 20, after remaining undefeated in my early professional career, I achieved my dream and signed with the UFC. Over the years, I worked my way up the ranks, eventually earning a shot at the UFC world title. Although I did not win the championship, the fight went down in UFC history as one of the greatest fights ever. It was a pivotal moment in my career that pushed me forward.

Following my time in the UFC, I signed with Bellator and soon became the Bellator World Champion, fulfilling my goal of becoming a world champion. After my successful run in Bellator, I competed in two seasons with the PFL before deciding to retire from professional fighting.