Rory MacDonald was one of the Professional Fighters League’s most high-profile free-agent signings in recent years, but his first season ended in disappointment.
That was due in part to a split-decision loss to Gleison Tibau that ended up being named Sherdog’s “Robbery of the Year” for 2021. That setback didn’t keep MacDonald out of the postseason, but his run ended in a surprisingly one-sided decision loss to eventual champ Ray Cooper III in the opening round of the playoffs.
For a former Bellator champion and UFC title challenger, it was not the outcome many expected when he signed with the new organization.