Rory MacDonald signs with PFL to fight in their Welterweight tournament

Rory MacDonald has inked a new exclusive multifight deal with Premier Fight League.

The news was first reported by ESPN. He will fight in the promotion’s 2020 season and will compete for the PFL’s welterweight title and $1 million grand prize. The prize is awarded to the respective winners in each weight class.

“I’m excited to join the PFL where every year the world championship and $1 million belt is there for the best fighter, without any games or politics,” MacDonald told ESPN. “I believe in the PFL sport-season format and fighters-first organization.”

The former UFC title contender and Bellator welterweight champion last fought in October earlier this year. He lost the final of the year long Welterweight Grand Prix tournament to Douglas Lima. That fight was the last one on his Bellator contract. Had he won the fight, the contract would have been extended.

Rory had entered Bellator in 2016. He became the champion of the 170 pounds division in his second fight with the promotion edging out Douglas Lima. He then moved up a weight class to challenge Gegard Mousasi for the middleweight. However, MacDonald proved to be way to smaller for Mousasi. Consequently he ended up with his first defeat of the promotion.

Rory followed it up with a draw against John Fitch. After that fight he had expressed concern over his hunger to hurt people anymore. However, he followed it up with a win over Neiman Gracie before eventually losing to Douglas Lima.

“The Red King” had joined UFC as a 20 year old undefeated prospect. He went on to rack up victories over the likes of Nate Diaz, Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia and BJ Penn. However, he lost in his lone UFC title fight, to Robbie Lawler in July 2015. That fight is considered one of the best in UFC history.

A date and an opponent for his PFL debut are yet to be released.