PFL’s Rory MacDonald Feels He Recovered Focus for Career’s Next Chapter

Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL and UFC on ESPN+ live on your computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the ESPN app.

The “Red King” will make his highly-anticipated Professional Fighters League debut on April 29.

Former Bellator MMA welterweight titleholder Rory MacDonald surprised fans and insiders when he announced that he would be competing under the PFL banner. MacDonald (21-6-1) tested free-agency after losing his belt via decision to Douglas Lima at Bellator 232. According to MacDonald, his focus was elsewhere during the Bellator’s welterweight grand prix, a fact that led to his exit from the tournament.

“I just felt like I wasn’t there as I wasn’t focused," MacDonald said. "I was just not 100 percent totally in the fighting at that point in my life. I fought to fulfill what I agreed in the Bellator tournament. My hunger wasn’t there, my passion wasn’t there. I just felt like I didn’t bring myself fully there. And it wasn’t my night.”

The Canadian fighter is scheduled to collide with PFL 2019 Season’s finalist David Michaud in his upcoming battle. MacDonald feels that spending the last year reflecting on himself helped him to regain his focus for the next chapter in his career.

“The year off, I felt like I got to address what was my confusion, where my lack of motivation was coming from,” he stated. “I feel like I got to put in a lot of good work. I was motivated to push myself in the year off, and I made a lot of improvements physically and mentally. I’m excited to go and show my improved skill, my improved mindset. I think it’s going to show to be one of my best performances yet.”

The fighter went on to add that the lack of motivation was coming from the fact that he was digging deeper into his faith as a new believer, questioning that fighting was right in the Lord’s eyes. After reflecting on it, he realized that fighting is the skillset God blessed him with, and he has to do his best to cultivate it.