Hyped Prospect Rory MacDonald Talks UFC Debut

by Steven T. Kelliher on Dec 16, 2009 3:41 PM EST

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with the super-hyped UFC welterweight prospect Rory MacDonald for an exclusive interview with Tapology in order to discuss his UFC debut, which comes next month against Mike Guymon, his training with welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, and his future in the sport.

On Guymon:

Tapology: You are scheduled to fight Mike Guymon on Spike TV January 11. What do you know about
him and what are you expecting out of him in that fight?

MacDonald: I expect an experienced guy, but I think I’m going to be better in every aspect of the game. I have seen footage on him and studied his fights.

Tapology: What is your prediction for the Guymon fight?

MacDonald: I think I’m going to win in the first round by knockout.

On St-Pierre:

Tapology: You were recently training at the Tristar Gym in Montreal, correct?

MacDonald: Yeah, I was training with all of those guys, and that was a really good experience for me. I was there for two weeks. I trained with Georges St-Pierre, and we started a good relationship there so hopefully we will continue to be sparring partners in the future. There were some good things about training over there, but I think we train a little bit more intensely where I am, a little more raw, and I am more comfortable with that right now.

On future:

Tapology: It is a difficult question to answer, but is this going to be your life’s work, this sport?

MacDonald: It is definitely going to be my life’s work. If I can go from now until I’m Randy Couture’s age, then that would be great, but you can only do something if your heart’s into it, so I will do it as long as I have the passion for it. I feel that I am going to have a long journey in this sport.

Be sure to read the full interview for thoughts on eventually contending with St-Pierre for the 170lb title, his impressive career up until this point, and the importance of finishing fights.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Comments

Where does he train now?

by TDITZ on Dec 16, 2009 4:59 PM EST reply actions

If you read the whole interview in the linked sections, it explains that he trains at Toshido Mixed Martial Arts in BC, Canada. Also, in the context of the interview, I do not think MacDonald was being cocky with his comments about Tristar Gym. I do believe he is used to harder sparring, which some people would consider to be poor judgment for someone trying for a lengthy career. That is what he is used to, and that is all he mean by it IMO.

If he was insulting GSP and his camp, then why—if you read the full interview—would he explicitly state that he hopes it is the beginning of a great relationship between the camps and fighters?

by Steven T. Kelliher on Dec 16, 2009 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

I do believe he is used to harder sparring, which some people would consider to be poor judgment for someone trying for a lengthy career. That is what he is used to, and that is all he mean by it IMO.

yep, that’s what i got from reading it too..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 17, 2009 2:58 AM EST up reply actions

Where does this kid train at that is “more intense” than Tri-Star?

Or is that UFC newbie talk for “I don’t want to move” because if so, alot of guys find out the hard way that their hometown gym won’t cut it in the UFC.

"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate

by Kaleb Kelchner on Dec 16, 2009 6:38 PM EST reply actions

Oh good, I thought I was the only one

getting a strong sense of cockiness from his answers.

by Scott Haber on Dec 16, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

when 20 years old, 9-0, and getting signed by the UFC, you probably feel like you’re the man

www.tapology.com | twitter @tapology

by GregS123 on Dec 16, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions

i read it as,

he likes hard sparring better, and GSP and the guys don’t go full force that much, at least on the time he trained there.. I didn’t take it as, “these guys are weak.” or anything cocky like that.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 16, 2009 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

also i think gsp’s training is tailor made for him, not so much his sparring partners

by Epy on Dec 16, 2009 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t take it like that either, but more of he’s living in his own little world, and sooner than later, it’s going to implode because he’s not getting top of the line training.

"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate

by Kaleb Kelchner on Dec 17, 2009 2:55 AM EST up reply actions

He looks like 12 !

by daveel on Dec 16, 2009 11:18 PM EST reply actions

do they force kids do hard labor where you live? ;)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Dec 17, 2009 2:53 AM EST up reply actions

i think the plastic belt over his shoulder is what makes him look so young. It looks like a life sized version of the ones that came with old wrestling ~~dolls~~ action figures.

by Stanlee on Dec 17, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions