Mike Pyle on Rory MacDonald: 'I'm Going to Break Him'

by Tim Burke on Jul 24, 2011 3:55 PM EDT in UFC Quotes

UFC welterweight Mike Pyle was given an opportunity to write a blog for ESPN, and he comes across as pretty brash and confident throughout the whole entry. He discusses his bout with English fighter John Hathaway at UFC 120, and promises to steal the hype away from Rory MacDonald when they meet at UFC 133. As you can see, he's pretty sure of himself:

So, it comes as no surprise to learn that a lot of people are backing this kid Rory MacDonald to defeat me on Aug. 6 at UFC 133. I'm sorry, but I'm not letting a kid who still gets ID’d stand in my way of getting a welterweight title shot. A lot of these kids get a lot of hype built around them and they receive a lot of praise through potential rather than any real achievement. John Hathaway was the same, just before I beat him at UFC 120 in October. John was a very talented fighter who had just beaten Diego Sanchez, and many people expected him to just walk right through me in his hometown of London. It never happened. Instead, I went out there and dominated him for three rounds. The crowd went silent as a library and John lost his unbeaten record.

He then talks about the idea that he could be perceived as a stepping stone by these prospects:

The UFC like to build stars and they like to invest a lot of time and effort in these young kids coming through. It makes sense and I get it. What I don't understand, though, is why anybody would think the likes of Hathaway or MacDonald can use ME as a stepping stone to the next level. That will never happen in a million years. I am not the guy you want to face if you're carrying that kind of hype and expectancy with you.

Let's be honest, I was winning fights when Hathaway and MacDonald were rushing home from junior high to play with their Pokemon.

...

Regardless of age, I feel that I'm a much better fighter than MacDonald right now, and I'll prove that on the night. MacDonald will be in there with a bigger, stronger and more experienced fighter and he won't know what to do. I'm going to break him …

Pyle (21-7-1, 4-2 UFC) has really turned it around since going 1-2 to start his UFC campaign, but he's going to have a very rough time with MacDonald at UFC 133. I understand being confident, but he better not take Rory lightly.

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He did Dominate Hathaway..

so you can’t say he doesn’t walk the walk.

But winning a fight is a lot of times not about who’s been doing it longest. If he backs it up again and whoops MacDonald, then he should start being called The Spoiler.

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by stainlesssteel on Jul 24, 2011 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

I like Rory, but he seems very "jack of all trades"

He’s pretty good at everything, but doesn’t seem great at anything. It will be interesting to see how he handles Pyle(who isn’t great at anything off the top of my head).

by HaterSlayer on Jul 24, 2011 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

I feel that Pyle has great BJJ, and I believe that he is one of the BJJ trainers at Xtreme Couture. I would personally say that Pyle is great at BJJ and good at everything else.

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by chrisbboy82 on Jul 24, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I doubt Rory still gets ID'd regularly

Drinking age is 18/19 in Canada (Hell here it’s 5 in private)

http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com

by MattParker117 on Jul 24, 2011 4:12 PM EDT reply actions

You still get ID’d on the regular even if you’re long past the legal drinking age here.

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by Tim Burke on Jul 24, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough

http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com

by MattParker117 on Jul 24, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Same thing here in NV if you appear under 40 most places will ID you

by 775assassin on Jul 24, 2011 4:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm English

I know store employees so jaded/careless about under age drinking they have sold to eleven year old’s. I fired them on each occasion but still it was shocking

http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com

by MattParker117 on Jul 24, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

by 775assassin on Jul 24, 2011 5:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Never hire frat boys to help run a local store

http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com

by MattParker117 on Jul 24, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

In Canada you could probably find a few beer stores like that, but any other alcohol is limited to specialty shops (most of which are tied to the government) serious about not selling to minors.

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by Bolshevik on Jul 24, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with a lot of what he says

And I have no problem with him saying it. However, to my eyes MacDonald is a much bigger test than Hathaway.

by Jim America on Jul 24, 2011 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

I think Hathaway was supposed to be a rebound win for Diego

And then they discovered he was actually a decent fighter

http://unintelligentdefense.blogspot.com

by MattParker117 on Jul 24, 2011 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

First fight back at WW for Diego as well.

by Jim America on Jul 24, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry Mike, but somebody is going to get Pyledrived

by Stiff Jab on Jul 24, 2011 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

The one where he lands on his knees is the worst

surprised he didn’t get injured from that.

by av1o3 on Jul 24, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha

If you look at Nate’s face as he falls on that one it is hilarious.

Let the fighters fight, let the referees ref, but dear God, don't let the judges judge.

by halitosis on Jul 24, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

If he beats Rory

I’m going to start calling him “The Buzzkiller”

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by Damon O. on Jul 24, 2011 4:42 PM EDT reply actions

MacDonald is a lot better than Hathaway.

Although I doubt he becomes a future champ like some of the more devoted members of his bandwagon claim.

What everyone needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome.

by lowellthehammer on Jul 24, 2011 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

GSP won't be around forever

And Rory is young and still can improve. A lot. He has a bright future, and possibly can become a champ. But not with his current state, he is too new and untested.

Let the fighters fight, let the referees ref, but dear God, don't let the judges judge.

by halitosis on Jul 24, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

If Rory wins this,

And Alves wins his next fight, I would really like to see those two headline a Fight Night. I would think it isn’t too far a step up in competition, as long as Rory is mentally strong. It would also give Rory significant name value.

Let the fighters fight, let the referees ref, but dear God, don't let the judges judge.

by halitosis on Jul 24, 2011 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

MacDonald's a different beat than Hathaway.

Key word: beast. I think this is gonna be a hell of a fight.

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by John Danaher's Hair on Jul 24, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think it's going to be much of a fight really.

Pyle looked very meh against Almeida last time out.

What everyone needs to do is calm down, take a deep breath, and prepare their bodies for the Thunderdome.

by lowellthehammer on Jul 24, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

MacDonald has looked far more impresive and diverse in his game

Than Hathaway.

Furthermore Pyle isn’t exactly difficult to finish.

I think RoryMac takes this via sub.

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by SSreporters on Jul 24, 2011 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Who are you to doubt the Universal Soldier?

by Chg91 on Jul 24, 2011 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Comparing Hathaway and Macdonald is a BIG mistake.

Hathaway is a talented kid but he’s nothing like Macdonald and it’s why Pyle is going to get crushed.

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by Chad Raynard on Jul 24, 2011 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

I wish I could remember Mike Pyle

I know I’ve seen the name plenty of times and I’m certain I’ve seen him fight but nothing comes to mind when I try to recall those fights. Does he have an “Oh, THAT guy” moment in the UFC?

by simpsycho on Jul 24, 2011 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

Pyle is in the white trunks

by Jim America on Jul 24, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a great thing to be remembered for

Is it me or are there a lot of generic guys in the UFC these days? Get a weird haircut, grow some odd facial hair, get a bigass tattoo. If you’re not gonna stand out in the cage, at least stand out in your appearance. You need proof, just ask Dan Hardy.

by simpsycho on Jul 24, 2011 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

hey, someone had to do this...

by Victor Rodriguez on Jul 24, 2011 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

YOU SIR

Are a mind fucking reader. Thank you.

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by friendlyfoe on Jul 25, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

It's not a surprise that Pyle thinks this way.

The way that Hathaway was promoted before UFC 120 was ridiculous. It was a free British card that lacked a lot of excitement to the casual fan so they just showed him kneeing Diego’s face into mush a thousand times with lightning bolts and Goldberg screaming and showed average clips of Pyle rolling with mans. The UFC learned their lesson and will wait it out to ultra-promote him.
Most people knew Pyle would be a test for him, and would really put Hathaway’s ground game to work. I think if Pyle is smart he may be able to lay and pray on Rory, but I think this could get rowdy if Rory keeps him at a distance. Macdonald and Hathaway are very different. Personally, I don’t like it when any fighter looks past another fighter, and I know Macdonald is working his ass off and learned a lot from his loss to Condit.
Pyle also needs to get real if he honestly thinks he deserves a title shot any time soon. Refer to the gif of Ellenberger knocking his ass out.

by tlowden on Jul 25, 2011 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

i don't think pyle is looking past macdonald

it’s just that the physical style macdonald likes to use. might not work well with pyle actually getting physical will work right into pyle’s gameplan. rory is not going keep it at a distance he likes to go in and dominate guys. pyle didn’t say he deserved one he just said these guys thinking with there hype they going ride a wave to the belt. he is going stop them to pave his way to the title which would work. think about it beating two very talented up and coming fighters his next match will be one of the top ten guys

by BIGNAT on Jul 25, 2011 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions