Rory MacDonald explains his departure from mixed martial arts

This past weekend, the former Bellator champion and long-time UFC welterweight contender called it quits after fighting under the PFL banner. MacDonald (23-10-1) was knocked out by Dilano Taylor (a last-minute substitute) in the first round of their welterweight fight at 2022 PFL 8. The fight took place in the organization’s welterweight tournament semifinals.

MacDonald declared his retirement from sports not long after the loss. Considering MacDonald never gave any indication he was close to retiring, this was a surprising move. However, the Canadian has known for some time that it was time to step down.

“It’s been on my mind for a while,” MacDonald said. “I feel like it’s been quite a few fights where I’ve actually questioned it, but just wasn’t ready (to retire).

“This (PFL) season was kind of my last hurrah. I was all in. I was going to put everything I could possibly put into this, and if I was successful, I was just going to keep going with it and go towards my goals, but if I fall short that would be the end.”

“I felt like I could still have that resurgence in my career. I had a goal, and I was driven, and I know in the practice room I could do certain things, but I just wasn’t able to do it in the cage when it came time, when rubber meets the road. Unfortunately, there’s a difference from what you can do in the practice room and under those lights. I just don’t have that certain thing, that spirit, that heart to go out there and get it done anymore. And every fight for a while now, it’s been diminishing now. I see it more and more.