Rory MacDonald is trying to keep his mind off distractions at Bellator 192 — and that includes losing main event status.
When Rory MacDonald steps into the Bellator MMA cage on Saturday, he won’t be the main event. That’s despite the fact that he’s facing welterweight champion Douglas Lima, with the title on the line. The pair were originally penciled in to headline Bellator 192, otherwise known as Bellator LA. Yet at the last minute, parent company Viacom opted to switch things up. Now, the original co-main event between Chael Sonnen and Rampage Jackson will top the card. Meanwhile, what could be the biggest welterweight fight in the promotion’s history is playing second fiddle.
MacDonald addressed the media on Wednesday at Bellator 192’s open workouts, and expressed his respect for the champ, and disappointment in losing the main event spot.
“Lima is a world class competitor. Even though he’s never fought int he UFC, I could see him competing against champions in UFC any day” MacDonald said of his opponent. “I took this fight very serious, trained very hard for this and I’m ready to take what’s mine.”
So what has MacDonald seen of the champ? “I’ve watched a few of his fights. I’m not a huge footage guy, but I’ve definitely seen him fight, kind of understand how he moves a little bit.” That’s enough for ‘The Red King’ however, as he added “that’s pretty much all I need, then I just focus on myself.”
And does a win mean MacDonald can claim ownership of the best welterweight label? The Canadian, after all, has a win over current UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley. “Yeah, I mean I already beat the other one, so I just got to take this one” MacDonald said of the unofficial claim to fame. “I think with the right performance, I think it’ll be a clear picture in people’s minds who’s the best.”
Of course, the biggest non-fighting story of Bellator 192 has been Lima vs. MacDonald’s demotion to co-main event. That came in favor of Rampage Jackson vs. Chael Sonnen, part of the Bellator World Heavyweight Grand Prix 2018.
“I’m disappointed, what can I say” MacDonald said of the switch. “Every time you fight for a championship, fighters, they take pride. It’s a special moment to be a main event in a world title fight. It’s an unfortunate part of it, but I’m not going to let it take my focus away on what my job is, getting that title.”
He admits, however, that it took him by surprise. “Totally, out of the blue. Didn’t seeing it coming” he told those in attendance. “I found out through an interview, I didn’t even find out from Bellator or anything like that. It was a total shocker, didn’t really know how to take it, understand why the decision was made… after hearing why, it’s their business, it’s how they want to run things. My business is in the cage, so I’m focused on that.”
MacDonald is simply trying to stay positive, despite a snub that seems all about ratings. And he’s not worried about anything Lima might do. Lima took some heat, perhaps, for not pressing the action enough in his last bout, but MacDonald isn’t interested in what Lima might or might not do on Saturday.
“Whatever he does, if he throws something wild, I’ll be ready for it.”
Check out our full video of Rory MacDonald addressing the media above. Bellator 192 takes place Saturday at The Forum in Los Angeles, CA.
