It’s been 18 months since Rory MacDonald last registered an official MMA contest, and that time away has apparently proved valuable for the Canadian veteran.
“I think everything worked out perfectly,” MacDonald said. “The year off, at first, seemed like a downer, but in hindsight, it’s been a blessing. It’s given me some ample time to make necessary changes in my life and in my training, and it’s benefitted me a lot, so I’m looking forward to putting that on display.”
MacDonald (21-6-1) faces Curtis Millender (18-6) in the featured bout of Thursday’s 2021 PFL 2 event, which airs on ESPN2 from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The two fighters have been quarantined for more than two weeks as part of the promotion’s COVID-19 protocol, and MacDonald said he’s used the situation to hone his focus even further.
“Going into this bubble, I had the obvious choice of letting it make me weak-minded about it or use it as something to build me stronger, harden my mind and my body more so when I go into the fight, I’m battle-hardened in my mind and my body,” MacDonald said.
With that in mind, MacDonald hopes to make a splash in his PFL debut. And though he’s had some mixed results in recent years under the UFC and Bellator banners, MacDonald said he hopes the entire 2021 season will give him an opportunity to remind fans of his true capabilities.
“I feel like this is a new era in my career, and I had a lot of time to reflect on how I want to leave my footprint on this sport, so I want to go out there and fight with no regret and go in there and finish like I have been known for in my early career,” MacDonald said.
Check out more from MacDonald in the video above, courtesy of the PFL.
