Rory MacDonald Ends Comeback Rumors, Says Fighting “Is Not for Me Anymore”

In a laid-back moment ahead of UFC 315, Canadian MMA veteran Rory MacDonald finally addressed lingering talk about a comeback. The former Bellator welterweight champ and longtime UFC contender hasn’t fought since 2022 — and says he’s not planning to change that.

“From time to time it has come back,” MacDonald said during a fan Q&A. “But shortly after, when I actually think about it and what it entails, I'm just not that kind of person anymore.”

Though he stepped away at just 32, MacDonald’s career started absurdly early — going pro at 16 and logging nearly two decades in the game. He finished with a 23–10–1 record and fought in some of the sport’s most brutal wars, including the UFC 189 classic against Robbie Lawler, now enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

After leaving the UFC in 2016, he jumped to Bellator, captured gold there, and even challenged for the middleweight belt. His final chapter came in the PFL, where results didn’t quite match the résumé — he went 2–4 and never quite looked like his peak self.

“I don't have the drive, the intensity it takes to be at a championship level anymore,” he admitted. “Sometimes it's nice to dream when you're having a lot of coffee or something, but when the reality comes back down to it, it's not for me anymore.”

Still, MacDonald isn’t totally out of the game. He trains regularly, keeps in shape, and mentors younger fighters coming up in Canada. He seems to enjoy that pace — no weight cuts, no pressure, just giving back.

Fans may still dream about one more walk to the cage, but if you listen to Rory talk these days, it’s pretty clear: he’s at peace with where he left things.