MacDonald: I think the UFC regrets letting me go

Rory MacDonald signed with Bellator MMA last summer and made a successful debut vs. Paul Daley on Saturday. Although The Red King had lost two in a row, they were in the fight of the year and a main event. At just 27 he was still one of the best in the division, with wins over UFC division champion Tyron Woodley and his next challenger Demian Maia.

During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, MacDonald said he thought the UFC messed up in letting him go, and believes they now realize it.

I thought it was fantastic, said MacDonald of his Bellator experience, as transcribed by Chuck Mindenhall for MMA Fighting . I was very happy with it. Everything went very smooth. Probably the best weigh-in procedure I’ve ever been through. It was very comfortable and smooth the way they ran it. Didn’t give me any headaches as far as running around and suffering for a long time. I was very happy with the weigh-in procedure.

As far as media, it was awesome. They really respected what I need out of fight week, but at the same time promoting the fight. We worked together and we got the job done, and it was done right. I was very happy with the way Bellator treated me and everything leading up.

Absolutely, I opened a lot of eyes I think, and I’m sure the management over at the UFC feels the same way. But we’re in the shoes that we are now, and I’m going to continue my journey the way I fought on Friday, and we’ll see where we are the next contract negotiation. But I’m very happy with Bellator, and I hope they are with me too. So, I foresee a good, long-term relationship with each other.

Maybe [the UFC] should be a little more cautious on how easy they let things slip through their fingers. Because, like I’ve tried to say in the past, fighters can’t always be on 24/7 every single time they step into the ring. So you have to allow for these performances that aren’t up to par, that you would normally see. I think they definitely messed up when they let me go. That’s their fault and Bellator’s gain, you know?

MacDonald will in all likelihood next fight the winer of the Lorenz Larkin vs. Douglas Lima title fight on June 24.