Rory MacDonald’s days of engaging in brutal wars in the cage may be coming to an end.
MacDonald is questioning his fighting future after struggling to fire at his typical rate during Saturday night’s majority draw with fellow UFC veteran Jon Fitch in the main event of Bellator 220.
‘The Red King’ retained his Bellator welterweight title with the result and he will advance in the 170lbs Grand Prix but he sounds unsure about his future as a fighter.
“I don’t have that killer inside,” MacDonald said in his post-fight interview. “It’s really hard to explain. I hesitate a little bit now. I don’t know what to say. It wasn’t my best performance.”
MacDonald became a fan favourite in the UFC for his ability to sustain punishment and continue marching forward, with his rematch against Robbie Lawler at UFC 189 one of the most gruesome fights in the organisation’s history.
.@Rory_MacDonald's post-fight interview. #Bellator220
"I don't know if I have that same drive to hurt people anymore." pic.twitter.com/6Iosk6RPID
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) April 28, 2019
The Canadian moved to Bellator in 2017 and won the welterweight title in his second bout for the promotion.
MacDonald failed in his bid to add the middleweight title to his collection in his next outing and in his return to 170lbs this weekend, he admitted that God spoke to him during the fight and altered his mentality.
“God has really called me the last little while. He’s changed my spirit, changed my heart,” MacDonald continued.
“It takes a certain spirit to come in here and put a man through pain and stuff. I just don’t know if I have that same drive to hurt people anymore. I don’t know what it is. It’s confusing. But I know the Lord has something in store for me. He was speaking to me in here tonight. It’s a different feeling.”
