Rory MacDonald confident he can defeat any Welterweight, but will not fight Georges St. Pierre
Posted on April 25, 2012, 08:08 PM by Mike DrahotaRising UFC Welterweight contender Rory MacDonald recently destroyed a very game opponent in Che Mills at UFC 145, and now it appears that the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old prospect. Training out of the TriStar Gym in Montreal under the tutelage of Georges St. Pierre, MacDonald has quickly shunned all talk of fighting GSP. However, it may be soon that MacDonald will find himself in the contradictory position of fighting for the Welterweight title, albeit against his mentor should the situation arise. MacDonald had the following to say about his evolution as a fighter in an interview on sportsnet.ca:
"I’ve evolved so much, added so many tools to my game, I feel like I’ve put so many things in my game that I can be aggressive but technical at the same time. It takes experience to learn how to stay calm, I’ve lost control in one of my fights before but basically I try to keep composed and try not to make mistakes and keep my technique. A lot of people think it’s better to go into berserker mode, but it’s not actually. I’m a pretty exciting fighter without going into berserker mode."
Possessing an experience seemingly beyond that of his age, MacDonald exudes the confidence necessary for a champion but knows he can't let his success get to his head. While known for viciously throwing opponents around and finishing them, MacDonald seeks to control his emotions amidst the roller-coaster that is a fighter's career. He expressed his confidence , and his desire to shy away from a fight with GSP, with the following:
"I think I could beat anybody in the division right now, I know my skill level. I’m not taking a fight against Georges. We’re training partners and help each other get better ... I stick to my principles. I believe in friendship. I have to think more tomorrow and 10 years from now."
With a calm and cool head on his shoulders, MacDonald has nowhere to go but up. In the stacked Welterweight division, it will be interesting to see who his next test is. Will Rory MacDonald be Welterweight champion, and if so, how soon?
Further Reading: Rory MacDonald ready for UFC 145; credits GSP and Tri-Star gym
Comments
if he keep on winning dana will make it happen just like rashad and jone =p
I guess Rory dosnt plan to make alot of money in his career
I think people are getting this mixed up a bit. Jones and Rashad were good friends and close training partners but GSP is basically Rory's mentor I mean he even corners the guy.
Remember it was the way Rashad reacted to Jones which tore up their relationship, I really doubt GSP would start talking crap (especially publicly) on Rory over an interview.
If GSP doesn't want to fight him he will handle the situation so that it doesn't happen.
Funny statement but actually he made a very low purse in his last fight even though he was co-main and one of the biggest names on the card.
my point exactly you dont get the big purses and ppv percentages till you hold that belt.
It's hard to disagree with that statement after the beating he handed Che. Che looked like a beast until MacDonald turned it on.
That's what Jon said about Rashad.
I see two Canadians helding Interim Belt (Rory McDonald) and Champion's belt (George St. Piere). Later on when GSP will retire, Rory will replace him. IMHO, these guys are too classy to fight one another.
Rory won't get to fight for an interim belt if he won't fight GSP, only point of the interim belt is to eventually unify it with the real one.
I'd hold on that thought until Rory's proven he can beat Fitch.
Fitch just dropped off the planet for top 5 welters just from a more than likely lucky KO shot. People are getting past themselves if they think he's old news for title contention. He is likely going to come back and ruin some potential title fights.
Im just saying man. I know how it works. The real scenario might be GSP going to middleweight, and Rory fighting for the in walterweight tittle. However, it's just a guess.
I agree GSP might eventually go to MW but he's gotta get bored of the WW division first, he's still got Diaz/Condit/Ellenberger/Hendricks/a rematch with Fitch as all possible contenders still. Might happen but probably not for a few years (assuming no one beats him in that time of course too)
he has 3 more fights if he mannages to beat condit after his long lay off. condit, ellenberger and diaz!! 2014 im sure we will see GSP on MW. he will give mcdonald his chance at the belt
you cant compare rashad and jones to GSP and rory!! the last two really seem to be real gentlemans
he scurrd
mmmm here we go again with that training partners, friends, brokeback mountain sh*t.... just fight damn it...
Future champ imo....and i dont see him vs GSP, they seem to be really close and honest about respecting their frienship....also He prob sees GSP as a mentor and that is powerfull.
The words Naive and Noob come to mind :)
matt brown?? do you realize that 3 years ago he was 10 seconds from beating carlos condit?? he totally won the first 2 rounds... if he wouldnt be young and reckless he will now with 22 years would have a win over the interim champion
now he will destroy condit!!
Rumors has it that if it gets to that point, one of them will move to a different weight class.
MacDonald at 186 seems the obvious choice, but apparently GSP has thought about dropping down to 155. How crazy would that be?
Rory Mac hasn't even probably hit his last growth spurt. Scary thought and I agree with cranestyle, he could probably bulk up to fight at 185. He definitely has the frame to do it.
Rory has said he'll go to MW eventually but he was saying in an interview with Karyn Bryant that he feels he would be an extremely small MW - he wouldn't be the smallest but he definitely would be at a size disadvantage compared to guys like Silva, Stann, Okami, Sonenn etc.
I would straight up fight my best friend for fifty bucks...and if I turned down a hundred grand because of principles...he would be the first one to call me a f**king idiot. "It is show business, not show friends" -Bob Sugar, Jerry McGuire.
Depends on your relationship. I wouldn't beat up my mom or my brother for 100000. Some friends can literally be as close as brothers and some brothers as close as eternal enemies. I used to beat up my brothers but I could not lay a hand on them now even if they wanted me to. I care too much about what the raw nature of a fist has to do with violence and relating it in anyway to my brother or my closest friend is just not comfortable for me. I set rules for myself and how I treat my family and friends. Yes I could make 100000 and then use it to buy them a new car but some people really don't understand the strength of some others moral stances and the satisfaction of sacrificing for the good of their close relationships. I know a friend of mine who would have no problem being friends after a fight and it has happened but we both agree it feels respectful to have someone who would never trade with you for a step up in life.
What? I think you along with a couple of other people here have a sport confused with a one sided beating. These guys chose this as their career. Not every fight starts with hard feelings, its not exactly a bar brawl. I don't see other professional athletes not competing against each other cause their friends. You go out, you do your job and may the best man win or find a team sport and play with your friends. I wrestled for fifteen years and I had to wrestle for a spot and I won or changed weight classes but like I said its a job and if you don't do your job then I don't care how good you are, change weights or get cut.
Haha, Rory will become the gatekeeper and GSP will remain champ but Rory will beat everybody so GSP will be left with no one to fight.
let' wait and see how he fares against a top 5 WW. He does like star material but still has it to prove. I don't think he is ready yet for a Condit or GSP.
LOL!! you dont realize he already fought condit 3 years ago dont you? watch that fight son
Yes and he lost. But as much as Rory has improved so has Condit.
That is true. I would love to see that fight again too.
He came pretty close to beating Condit last time they fought, so I'm pretty sure he's ready for him. GIve him Diaz if he wants a test...
Sharp sharp sharp sharp sharp !!!!! Give him Nick Diaz, i wouldn't sleep for days if they annoucned that matchup !!
nate???
Yeah, Nate.
future champion...definetly, how soon? thats up to GSP. If george beats condit and the winner of jake vs kampmann, then rory will have two choices...change camps and fight gsp or change weight division. I think in all likelyhood GSP is in his prime at 30 y/o and has no interest in giving up his belt. George can still go up for champ vs champ at middleweight but after that ww is his domain and where he is most likely to superior. rory can go up to mw but seeing him with likes of silva, chael and munoz is not very reassuring. On the other hand he was a lightweight champ in Canada so he could very well move down and challenge bendo or edgar for immediate title shot if nate diaz were to beat miller...imo
GSP said in Japan the only way he would drop to LW would be if he cut of a limb.
So forget that direction.
GSP will probably move up to MW after two WW fights--or he will retire.
look george in no where close to retirement....he is only 30 and in his prime so you can forget about that direction...
Nick Diaz vs Rory would be nice...Seriously ww division is the toughest division right now... Nick Diaz, Rory, Condit, Sanchez, Ellenberger, Shield, Koscheck, Hendricks, Fitch, Kampan, Alves.
Not sure about the most stacked but it's definitely up there and is 10x better than it was a year ago.
Shields moved up to 185 and although Fitch, Sanchez, and Alves are really good fighters i can't see any of them getting a title shot. WW does have a lot of good fighters in it but i don't think it compares to 155. Damn near everyone in the top ten of that division could win the belt.
IMO its the toughest division by far and its 30 times better than the middleweight division and 100 times than the feather weight division
I still think LHW is the most stacked which is what makes Jones so scary the way he dominates it.
LHW is already wiped out by Jones... And no of those fight was close it was one sided pounding. In ww everbody have chances to get title shot and title.... GSP is ducking them all by having 2 fights in year
MW used to be empty but it's getting real interesting right now with a lot of guys in the mix - Silva, Sonnen, Belfort, Bisping, Munoz, Weidman, Stann and Hector is joining the party soon as well.
I really can't see this fight ever happening, a lot less chance than Jones and Rashad IMO.
Some one else said above very smartly that Rory will be champion but only when GSP retires or goes to MW.
Some people think GSP might only have a few years in him but seriously look at how much damage he has taken, in the last few years the only real damage he took was in the first Serra fight. I think GSP has gave himself plenty of years left to fight by how he fights intelligently.
Rory,I hope your statements are true! Dana cant make you do anything you dont want to do and there is alot to be said of ones character for being true. GSP is a great role model. Success will be there for you.
Did I mention that Jon Jones became Dana's B**ch now. Congrats Jon you tha man now........Until the man (Dana) finds the next sucker.
Dana compared MMA gyms to boxing--saying that in boxing, sparring partners often fight each other.
MMA is modeled more after the Martial Arts Dojo, where there is greater loyalty to the school/gym and to training partners than in boxing. The reluctance to fight training partners has a positive effect on training--since each fighter does not fear showing his 'secrets' to those with which he trains. It is very important to have top professional training partners IN YOUR WEIGHTCLASS to grow as a fighter. Any bum or tough guy off the street or from a pool of fighters is not the same thing.
There is nothing wrong with training partners fighting each other, but if they choose not to--I respect that.
Dana White likes to put everything in terms of money--but to most fighters, their motivation day in and day out in training is more than seeking money.
Yes, the money and the fame are important--but they are not the only motivation for top fighters.
Dare I say honor, friendship, and brotherhood matter to many fighters?
Dana will never understand such values.
I must agree on your last sentence, but I would like to add integrity and respect.
Very good. I agree. Let them if they want to and if not let them decide who is going to move up the ladder and who is going to move divisions. It actually brings in great chances at seeing fights that would be otherwise impossible. There is a better chance of GSP vs Silva if there is a clash for a title shot between 2 unfighting friends.
Rory is too busy hugging GSP's nuts to fight him. Don't worry, by the time Rory is ready for his shot GSP won't be the champ anyway.