Rory MacDonald’s PFL debut was a long time coming, but it may have been worth the wait.
One of the PFL’s most high-profile free agent signings between its most recent 2019 season and the 2021 campaign, MacDonald (22-6-1) tapped out Curtis Millender (18-7) with a first-round rear-naked choke in his promotional debut Thursday.
The finish came at the 3:38 mark of the opening round at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., and gave MacDonald a crucial six points in the welterweight standings.
Millender wasn’t shy throwing kicks and punches early and tried to counter MacDonald’s early punches. But a little shy of the midway point, MacDonald moved in for a takedown. And while Millender defended initially, MacDonald got him to the canvas fairly quickly with nearly half the round left.
MacDonald moved around to take Millender’s back and with two minutes left had a body triangle. Millender defended at first, but in short order MacDonald had his arm under the chin with a rear-naked choke. It was tight, and it didn’t take Millender long to tap.
The Red King!! 1st round submission and a successful debut for Rory MacDonald!#2021PFL2
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🌍 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/DU6wA0wgRB— PFL (@PFLMMA) April 30, 2021
“I put in a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice over 2020 and this year, so I’m really glad to be here and have a good performance like that,” Macdonald said after the fight. “Of course (I’m interested in Ray Cooper III). He’s the champ here.”
MacDonald, a former Bellator welterweight champion and ex-UFC title challenger, joined 2019 welterweight winner Cooper at the top of the 170-pound standings after Cooper’s first-round submission in the co-main event.
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