Rory MacDonald reveals main reason he is looking outside the UFC ‘to start getting paid’

Rory MacDonald is one of the elite welterweights in the UFC and is set to fight Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC Fight Night 89 in Ottawa, Canada on June 18.

The winner of the fight will likely be the next to challenge for the welterweight title. However, this will be MacDonald’s last fight on his UFC contract and has made it known that negotiations to renew his contract with the UFC have not been made.

MacDonald spoke with Fight Network about fighter pay (transcribed by MMA Fighting).

“I think it’s important to get it out there. It’s a known topic about fighter pay now and I think it’s beneficial to me that I get it out there too so when it comes time to negotiate I have other sources to talk with. It’s a known thing, people are buzzing about it. It’s a good thing.”

MacDonald says that with a baby girl on the way, he will have to provide for her and that sparked a major change in his mindset regarding pay.

“I’m a simple martial arts guy. I come from humble beginnings so I don’t require a lot to feel comfortable. But now that I have a little girl on the way, I want to be able to provide everything she’s gonna need in her life. So that’s a big motivator to start getting paid for this because it doesn’t last forever.”

The UFC Fight Night 89 card in Ottawa sold out in record time and will be the largest show in TD Place history and MacDonald says his role played a big part in the event’s success.

“I want big money fights because first and foremost I think I’m worth it. I think I bring a lot to the table, I think I bring a lot of viewers. I think I’m the guy in the Canadian market right now, and I think that is a huge factor that is forgotten in some negotiations, but you know, we’re gonna see how it plays out.

Will the UFC pay Rory MacDonald what he feels he is worth? Or will competition such as Bellator MMA pick up the top-ranked welterweight?