Rory MacDonald says he isn’t sure he still likes hurting people after defending Bellator belt

Rory MacDonald defended his Bellator welterweight belt courtesy of a fight against Jon Fitch that was ruled a majority draw Saturday night at Bellator 220 in San Jose.

And while it was a controversial decision that could have easily had Fitch being named the winner, it’s what MacDonald said in the cage after the fight that has fans and media wondering what’s next for him.

What’s supposed to be next for MacDonald is a fight with Neiman Gracie at MSG on June 14th in the semifinals of Bellator’s welterweight grand prix.

But MacDonald, a decorated veteran in the sport of MMA, including a long run in the UFC in which he beat a bunch of big names, didn’t sound like someone who wants to keep fighting:

“It’s hard to pull the trigger. I don’t have that killer instinct. It’s hard to explain. … It takes a certain spirit to come in here and put a man through pain, and I don't know if I have that same drive to hurt people anymore."

– Rory MacDonald after tonight’s majority draw.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 28, 2019

MacDonald: I feel like God has called me for a while. It’s hard to put another man through pain and suffering. I don’t know what it is. It’s confusing. I know the Lord has something in store for me, he was speaking to me in here tonight. #Bellator220

— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) April 28, 2019

You can watch his very honest interview here:

.@Rory_MacDonald's post-fight interview. #Bellator220

"I don't know if I have that same drive to hurt people anymore." pic.twitter.com/6Iosk6RPID

— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) April 28, 2019

MMA media speculated on what this could mean going forward:

Sure sounds like Rory MacDonald is telling us that his religious faith is incompatible with hurting people in a cage for money. Which actually makes more sense to me than all the people who thank God for helping them knock someone out.

— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) April 28, 2019

Lest you forget, Rory MacDonald made his pro MMA debut 14 years ago as a 16 year old. Yes, 16 years old. IF that was it, he doesn’t owe anyone anything. Tremendous career.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 28, 2019

I respect him immensely for saying what he did. I’m sure his promoters aren’t as thrilled but Rory has never been fake and so I appreciate the fact that he is being so honest without fear of backlash. https://t.co/Xbn3nM95CO

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 28, 2019

Rory MacDonald sounds very confused. Bellator has a champion who says the lord was speaking with him tonight and he may not have it anymore. He says he has to reevaluate fighting Gracie.

— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) April 28, 2019

After watching that post fight interview with Rory MacDonald, I don't think he's anywhere near the right frame of mind to be fighting anymore. Make sure you go out of your way to watch it. Really honest and open stuff from MacDonald. #Bellator220

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) April 28, 2019

Is Rory MacDonald considering retirement? This is a crazy postfight interview with Big John McCarthy.

"I don't know if I have that same drive to hurt people anymore. "#Bellator220

— Greg Rosenstein (@grosenstein) April 28, 2019

Uhh maaaaybe put the breaks on that MacDonald-Gracie fight

— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) April 28, 2019

Rory MacDonald looked like an absolute shell of himself but still managed to fight to a draw because Jon Fitch is just so offensively inept

Anyone decent in there tonight beats him. He even said in his post-fight interview that he can’t pull the trigger anymore. He’s shot. Yikes

— Luca Fury (@FurysFightPicks) April 28, 2019

Did we witness the last fight of Rory MacDonald’s illustrious MMA career tonight, a career that started at the age of 16? #Bellator #rorymacdonald #Bellator220

— Late Stoppage MMA (@LateStoppageMMA) April 28, 2019