Rory MacDonald is probably one of the UFC's top prospects for future champion in the welterweight division. Saturday night at UFC on Fox 5, MacDonald took a huge leap in status by dismantling one of MMA's greatest fighters, B.J. Penn.
Penn was looking for a victorious return to the octagon against MacDonald but it just was not meant to be. MacDonald controlled the fight from bell to bell. MacDonald was just too big and to strong for Penn who is a natural lightweight.
In the second MacDonald rattled Penn with a body kick and before that at the close of the first he rocked Penn with a stiff elbow. Penn tried to stay aggressive and continued to press forward but was unable to get any sort of offense going. When it was all said and done, MacDonald cruised to a fairly easy, if that is possible in fighting, victory with judges giving it to him 30-26, 30-26, and 30-27.
Following the win MacDonald was quick to call out the only man to defeat him, Carlos Condit. "There's a guy that humiliated me a couple years ago, and I want my revenge," MacDonald told Joe Rogan. "Carlos Condit, I want a rematch. Accept my challenge. Let's do it in March – I'm going to get my revenge."
This may have been MacDonald's biggest win in terms of name value, however it was clear that it was not much of a test for him physically or skill wise. Penn is in terrible need of a change of scenery if he chooses to continue to fight. Penn need to surround himself with a new camp in a new location with people that will push him to evolve his game. If changes are not made, Penn may as well hang up the gloves for good.
For MacDonald it is time for him to get another step up in competition. Perhaps a fight with the overlooked contender Johny Hendricks. A rematch with Carlos Condit is possible but the UFC typically does match guys up when one is coming off of a win and the other a loss.
Rory MacDonald moves to 14-1 for his MMA career with a record of 5-1 in the UFC and B.J. Penn moves to 16-9 with a 12-8 record in the UFC.
UFC on Fox 5 aired live on pay per view on December 8th.
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