In 2016, a former UFC title challenger parted ways with the promotion before retiring six years later.
Considering that he was still one of the top welterweights in the world, Rory MacDonald’s decision to not re-sign with the UFC was a huge shock to fans.
He went on to compete 12 times in Bellator and the PFL, but in 2023, MacDonald became a UFC Hall of Famer when his classic fight with Robbie Lawler was inducted into the Fight wing.
The retirement of ‘Red King’ seemed inevitable by the time he made the call to hang up the gloves in 2022.
MacDonald spoke about no longer having the drive to compete when he was recently asked about a potential comeback at a Q&A event at UFC 315, but his feelings have quickly changed.
Rory MacDonald says he regrets not attending the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony but it was ‘too fresh’ at the time
UFC fans were both incredibly happy and surprised to see Rory MacDonald make an appearance at the UFC’s recent event in Montreal this past May.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former welterweight title challenger said that this was the first time that he’d been at a UFC event since his fight with Stephen Thompson in June of 2016.
While ‘Red King’ claims that things were always professional between him and the UFC, he did cause some controversy ahead of that fight by stating he would explore free agency rather than immediately re-signing with the promotion.
Speaking during the interview, MacDonald revealed why he didn’t attend his UFC Hall of Fame induction in 2023, stating that he wasn’t in the right head space to reflect on his career at that time.
“It was too fresh. It was right after I retired and I was being a bit of a baby I think… I felt like a loser at that point. I lost that fight. What am I going to go and accept an award for losing a fight? So I don’t know, I think I was just being a little, it was just fresh. The retirement was fresh.”
He went on to say that he now regrets this decision, but the timing simply wasn’t right for him.
“Yeah, I think I should have. I think it would have been nice to be alongside Robbie. We both dug deep in that. I think it would have been the right thing to do looking back.”
Rory MacDonald provides an update on a potential MMA return after three years away from the sport
When Rory MacDonald retired following his last PFL fight in 2022, he didn’t just take a step back from the sport, he vanished from it entirely.
‘Red King’ meant what he said about not having the drive to compete anymore when speaking in May, but his children wanting to take part in martial arts has re-ignited his motivation.
MacDonald said that while he doesn’t know whether this will definitely lead to him making a return at 36 years old, he’s willing to see where this path takes him.
“I don’t know, but I’m back in the gym full-time. It’s got me in the gym loving training again so I don’t know what it will lead to but I’m enjoying my time in martial arts again, it feels good…The fire is always there, it’s always part of me. I feel like that was put inside me from an early age.”
