Within a week after getting cut by the UFC, former bantamweight title challenger Michael McDonald signed with Bellator MMA.
Now that he has a new home, the bantamweight fighter is ready to embrace his new surroundings.
“[Bellator] has been kind to me so far, so that’s great,” he says to MMA Fighting. “I’m taking my time, and I understand they’re a business and they’ve got to make money, just like the UFC. This whole dealing I did with the UFC was between me, my management agency and [matchmaker] Sean Shelby. Aside form the whole deal and me not feeling okay with the negotiations, I have for years considered Sean Shelby a friend, and I still consider Sean Shelby a friend. Even if it’s someone I don’t like, if they do business up front and honestly and keep me informed, I’ll be okay. I haven’t learned enough about the guys at Bellator to have a personal opinion on the people there. I’m a new guy. I’ve only been there [a little more than] a week. But business wise they’ve been very up front, and they’ve been prompt with everything they said and they haven’t dropped the ball or anything. They seem like they’re honest, which is great.”
McDonald doesn’t have a debut date or opponent set yet in Bellator MMA, but when he does return to action, it will be the first time he has competed in over a year. Earlier this year, McDonald actually said he was taking time off because he couldn't afford to train.
Either way, the fighter's situation with the UFC didn’t end well and he’s happy that it's over with.
“I am glad that the previous situation is over, because that was very stressful,” he said. “I’m on to a new situation, and so far my dealings with Bellator have been great, and I’m very excited to do business with them.”
The fighter last competed in the main event of UFC Fight Night 91, where he suffered a TKO loss to John Lineker.
