Rory MacDonald Seeks To Prove Himself Against Condit

At the same time most teenagers were receiving their drivers’ licenses, Rory MacDonald was making his professional mixed martial arts debut. The Canadian, 16 years of age at the time, submitted fellow Canadian Terry Thiara via rear naked choke at “Extreme Fighting Challenge 4.”

The dominant performance then landed MacDonald in the promotion he would soon call home, debuting against Ken Tran in the King of the Cage promotion. Just as he did in his first fight, MacDonald locked on a rear naked choke to secure his second consecutive submission victory.

It was quickly apparent that dominance would become a trend for MacDonald in the smaller promotions. Following his first two victories, he went on to submit Jordan Mein at “Rumble in the Cage 17”, thus earning another opportunity in the King of the Cage promotion.

Over his next six fights, all with King of the Cage, MacDonald became the most dominant force in the promotion’s 155-pound division. After submitting Quinton Moreno in his fourth professional fight and return to the promotion, MacDonald scored a technical knockout victory over Yoon Heo and was launched into title contention.

In his first professional title fight, MacDonald knocked out Kajan Johnson for the KOTC Canadian Lightweight Title. Just under one year later, he captured the KOTC World Lightweight Title and was officially the best lightweight on the promotion’s roster.

However, MacDonald made the decision shortly after winning the title to make the move up to the 170-pound division in King of the Cage, where he debuted in the welterweight division against Elmer Waterhen, submitting him via armbar. He then went on to knock out Nick Hinchliffe in his second fight at welterweight. The victories at welterweight pushed MacDonald’s record to 9-0 and displayed his ability to take on bigger challenges in MMA.

After his dominance through the smaller promotions, the Ultimate Fighting Championship came calling in late 2009. MacDonald signed on with the promotion, debuting against Mike Guymon on the undercard of “UFC Fight Night 20.” In the waning moments of the first round, MacDonald locked on an armbar, forcing Guymon to submit. He debuted with the promotion at the age of 20 years old.

MacDonald has amassed an impressive 10-0 record since debuting at the ripe age of 16. Now 20, MacDonald has been matched up against the former-WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, a man who wants nothing more than to derail the incredible hype surrounding the young Canadian. The fight is an opportunity for MacDonald to prove where he stands at this point in his career.

The problem with gauging the talent and potential of MacDonald at this point is that he has yet to be challenged. Over his 10-fight career, he has finished all of his opponents, six of them in the first round. Now, MacDonald goes from fighting opponents such as Elmer Waterhen and Mike Guymon to a former champion in the UFC’s sister promotion.

It would be premature to call Condit a gatekeeper in the 170-pound division, but, in this fight, that is exactly what he is. Condit has been placed against MacDonald to test the prospect and determine whether or not he has what it takes to move on to the next tier in the welterweight division. The step up in competition MacDonald has taken with this fight is noticeable, as no other opponent he has faced matches the skill and experience a fighting like Condit can claim.

Will MacDonald prove that the hype surrounding him is not misplaced? Or will he fall to Condit at UFC 115 after being matched up with better competition prematurely?

Questions such as these can only be answered once the Octagon door closes, and at UFC 115 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, MacDonald will have to answer those questions in front of his home crowd in an effort to keep this hype train rolling, while his experienced opponent looks to derail the meteoric rise of the young gun.