Lengthy-time 170-lb contender Stephen Thompson believes former world champion Rory MacDonald is best than ever since hanging up his gloves three years in the past after sharing a camp with him.
Stephen Thompson Groups Up With Rory MacDonald Forward of UFC Nashville
Within the construct up for his first bout of 2025, Thompson didn’t take any probabilities in making all vital preparations for his co-main occasion look at UFC Nashville this previous weekend. Gearing up for a pivotal conflict with sturdy prospect Gabriel Bonfim, “Wonderboy” pulled out all of the stops in his coaching as he regarded to defend his rating within the welterweight high 15. On the lookout for the fitting teammates for his newest Octagon task, Thompson introduced on earlier adversary Rory MacDonald to affix him in his camp.
Veteran viewers of the game will bear in mind Rory MacDonald for his six yr stint within the UFC. Defeating the likes of Nate Diaz, BJ Penn, Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley, “The Crimson King” earned a coveted title shot on the welterweight throne in opposition to then champion Robbie Lawler in 2015. In arguably the best combined martial arts combat of all time, the 2 males battered one another for 5 rounds in a slugfest for the ages, although it was MacDonald who in the end succumbed within the fifth spherical as a result of strikes.
Competing simply as soon as extra within the promotion to the aforementioned Thompson, who outstruck the Canadian en path to a unanimous determination victory, Rory MacDonald ended up leaving the UFC for rival firm Bellator in 2017, capturing their 170-lb strap and defending it twice. He then left for the PFL 4 years later earlier than retiring in 2022 with an organizational report of 2-4, shedding the final contest of his profession to Dilano Taylor by first spherical knockout.
Thompson Reveals Rory MacDonald Drastically Improved After Retiring
Whereas his days as an energetic fighter are effectively behind him, with Rory MacDonald bluntly restating that truth at a panel within the lead as much as UFC 315, Thompson believes that the combined martial arts icon is best now than when he final fought. In an interview with venerable journalist Ariel Helwani, the South Carolinian spoke concerning the enhancements that MacDonald has made in his absence from the limelight.
Might we see Rory MacDonald make a return? 👀
“Rory, I feel is best now than when he was earlier than he retired. I feel it is as a result of he discovered that fireplace inside him once more.
With expertise like that, it might simply be a disgrace for the world to not see him combat once more.” – @WonderboyMMA pic.twitter.com/jmCpEAYdTN
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 15, 2025
“Rory, I feel is best now than when he was earlier than he retired. I feel it’s as a result of he discovered that fireplace inside him once more,” mentioned Thompson. “With expertise like that, it might simply be a disgrace for the world to not see him combat once more.”
Within the realm of fight sports activities, some retirements don’t are inclined to final for very lengthy. Over the previous two years alone, we have now seen a number of high-profile UFC names metaphorically and actually put their gloves down, solely to return to motion shortly thereafter. This may be seen with former Olympian Henry Cejudo competing in the primary occasion of UFC 288 after strolling away from the promotion a mere three years earlier. In a more moderen instance, famend competitor Jon Jones additionally introduced his retirement, just for him to reenter the UFC’s testing pool two weeks later.
Though the chance of Rory MacDonald making a comeback after so lengthy appears slim, his fame among the many fanbase is without end cemented after his many memorable performances contained in the Octagon. With the picture of his battered visage staring down a harmful Robbie Lawler etched in annals of the game’s historical past, MacDonald will go down as one of many biggest welterweights to ever do it.
