UFC veteran Rory MacDonald is set to challenge Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima for the gold in the co-main event of Bellator 192.
The title encounter was recently demoted from main event to co-main event and MacDonald is not happy about it.
“I’m disappointed,” said MacDonald at the Bellator 192 open workouts. “What can I say? Every time you fight for a world championship fighters take pride… it’s a special moment to be a main event for a world title fight. It’s an unfortunate part of it, but I’m not going to let it take my focus away from what my job is and getting that title.”
Bellator MMA President Scott Coker did reveal that it was the decision of the Paramount Network to make the change to the card.
MacDonald even says that the promotion neglected to tell him about the change to the card.
“It was totally out of the blue. I didn’t see it coming. I found out through an interview. I didn’t even find out from anyone from Bellator or anything like that so it was a total shocker,” said MacDonald. “I didn’t really know how to take it and why the decision was made, but after hearing why, it’s their business and it’s how they want to run things. My business is in the cage, so I’m focused on that.”
Bellator 192 takes place on Saturday, January 20 from The Forum in Inglewood, California with Chael Sonnen and Quinton Jackson headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on the Paramount Network.
