We agree with you Rory MacDonald. There is absolutely no way to accurately predict who gets a title shot anymore.
On the MMA Hour the Canadian MMA standout discussed what it was like to get snubbed again for the chance at the welterweight championship. For the longest time he had no chance of being the champion since his training partner GSP was sitting on top of the world at his weight class. Now, when he finally is free to challenge for it the opportunity is snatched away from him.
The UFC title shot system is a joke. Money making, fast talking Conor McGregor has convinced the world he is the #1 contender despite only having 4 fights and only 2 being notable opponents mainly because has proven he can make money and attract attention. The perfect storm for super stardom. I love Anderson Silva, but if he defeats a welterweight named Nick Diaz he gets a title shot against Chris Weidman? Sorry Jacare, Rockhold.
Rory held nothing back and he spoke his mind on being passed over to face Robbie Lawler for the trilogy finale between Lawler and Hendricks. He instead faces Hector Lombard in his next bout in a fight of #3 and #4 ranked athletes in the 170 division. The winner of this fight cannot be denied a shot at the crown – unless McGregor moves to middleweight and knocks out a can.
Here’s what Rory had to say:
I was a little bit heartbroken. But it’s okay. Even when I first heard the news that I was promised I was going to get the next title shot, I was skeptical. You can’t always believe what you hear. Things change so often in this sport, you’d be a fool if you believed everything that came out. So I’m not surprised that it happened. But I was pretty sad about it.
Honestly I didn’t even …I thought Robbie won the fight pretty clearly in my eyes. I didn’t see why they would want a third fight, at all. I figured, you know, they would definitely want me to fight Robbie after that fight. So it didn’t work out. It didn’t work out like I thought it would.
I didn’t get (a reason)…They just said ‘you’re not getting it.’ That’s it. So it was a bit of a waste of my time going [to Las Vegas], wasn’t it?
There’s definitely some issues. But I don’t have the answers for how it could change, or whatever. But yeah, I don’t agree with a lot of the things that are done. But, I mean, I’m not in their shoes either, right? So it’s hard for me to say.
A little bit, you know? It makes me a little bit bitter about the situation, and probably makes me think about it in a little bit of a negative light. But you know, I’m a little bit pissed off and that’s how I’m dealing with it.
I don’t know. Just keep watching. I have nothing to say, I don’t know what to say. I just, you know, I’m just going to keep fighting. Whatever. If there’s a belt there afterwards or there’s not, I’m still going to go out there and f**k someone up.