Last August, when Rory MacDonald signed a contract with Bellator, it was considered a coup for the promotion to land a 27-year old fighter coming off a Fight of the Year candidate (against Robbie Lawler) and a headlining spot in his home country of Canada (against Stephen Thompson). It was also considered by many confounding that the UFC — his home for 13 fights — would let him walk.
Now, after MacDonald’s second-round submission victory over Paul Daley at Bellator 179 in London on Friday, Bellator looks like it scored a fighter still well within his prime. MacDonald made Daley tap via a rear-naked choke in a fight that he said he never even got him once.