MacDonald testing free agency?

Will Rory MacDonald be the next MMA free agent to leave the UFC for Bellator?  MacDonald appears to be open to the possibility.

MMA Junkie’s Chamatkar Sandhu tweeted that Bellator President Scott Coker has opened up talks with Rory MacDonald in hopes of eventually signing the welterweight.

The last fight of MacDonald’s UFC contract was at UFC Fight Night 89 in June against Stephen Thompson.  MacDonald lost via unanimous decision.

The soon to be 27-year-old MacDonald (his birthday is next week) is on a 2 fight losing streak having dropped the Thompson fight and losing to Robbie Lawler in a classic fight last July at UFC 189.

MacDonald has been outspoken about maximizing his time as an MMA fighter.  He has criticized the Reebok deal for eliminating an avenue of revenue for fighters.  Prior to the UFC-Reebok deal, MacDonald was a marketable fighter with multiple sponsors.  He did have an individual sponsor deal with Reebok despite his criticism.

Payout Perspective:

MacDonald’s timing for free agency comes on the heels of a 2 fight losing streak.  Unless the new owners of the UFC are interested in retaining him, he will likely move to Bellator.  The Canadian should be able to maximize his marketability with the organization and recapture some of those sponsors that he had to give up with the Reebok deal.  For Bellator, it’s a good deal since they would get a fighter still in his 20s that could immediately challenge in the welterweight division.