AFTER ENDING HIS time with the UFC with back-to-back defeats, Rory MacDonald returned to winning ways last night at London’s Wembley Arena.
In his debut for Bellator, the promotion he left the UFC to join last year, MacDonald submitted English veteran Paul Daley (39-15-2) in the second round of the main event at Bellator 179 to take his professional record to 19-4.
Daley would have been hoping for a stand-up war, but on the back of his five-round battles with Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and Robbie Lawler in his most recent outings, MacDonald appears to have had his fill of epic slobberknockers for the time being at least.
The Canadian dominated the fight on the ground and eventually forced a tap from Daley, due to a rear-naked choke, after 1:45 of the second round.
MacDonald will now go on to challenge for Bellator’s welterweight title. The belt will be on the line next month in New York when champion Douglas Lima faces Lorenz Larkin.
Elsewhere last night at Bellator 179, Linton Vassell scored a third-round submission (arm-triangle choke) win over Liam McGeary, while Cheick Kongo picked up a split-decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) victory against Augusto Sakai.
