Rory MacDonald Could Use A Finish To Cement His Title Shot

After losing to 170-pound title contender Robbie Lawler at UFC 167 last November, No. 2-ranked UFC welterweight Rory MacDonald has reeled off consecutive decision wins over Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley.

The rebound has “Ares” potentially headed for an awaited title shot should he defeat former Strikeforce champion Tarec Saffiedine in the main event of Saturday night’s (October 4, 2014) UFC Fight Night 54 from the Scotiabank Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

With his good friend and longtime former champion Georges St. Pierre still on the shelf recovering from a torn ACL earlier this year, the path was finally clear for MacDonald to earn the fight that he has been anointed with for years. However, while MacDonald has been efficient and stifling during his recent two-fight streak, he hasn’t exactly stamped his ticket into a fight against the winner of UFC 181’s rematch between Johny Hendricks and Lawler.

Saffiedine will of course stand in his way, another highly technical striker with good takedown defense and perhaps the most brutal low kicks in MMA. Most still predict an easy win for the improving “Ares,” who now claims to have regained his love of fighting.

“The Sponge” could throw a big wrench in all of those plans, of course, but even if MacDonald does pull off the victory, he may need to do it impressively to solidify his shot at gold. Should he have to? That’s tough to say, but MacDonald has earned a small amount of criticism for having tough opposition clearly dominated but instead picking them apart to earn a decision.

He clearly had No. 3-ranked Tyron Woodley dominated in the co-main event of June’s UFC 174, and he most likely would have finished the bout had it gone on for another minute. But UFC President Dana White still believed MacDonald should have taken “The Chosen One” out when he ha the chance.

It’s the same criticism that haunted St. Pierre during the latter part of his career, and not exactly a good reputation for MacDonald given that he’s not even champion yet. So is it a foregone conclusion that he fights for and wins the belt? I would say there’s obviously a very good chance, but perhaps everyone should pump their brakes a bit.

What if Lawler beats Hendricks in a hard-fought decision? Those two would probably be headed for a trilogy-ending grudge match, and it would tough to think that both would emerge from UFC 181 unscathed. That could put the belt on hold for the next year or more, meaning that MacDonald would most likely have to take another fight in the meantime.

But who is left? Well, if No. 4-ranked Carlos Condit, who has a win over MacDonald and will return from a torn ACL next year, would be the logical top choice. MacDonald could also face No. 5 Matt Brown or No. 6 Hector Lombard, but otherwise, no other Top 10-ranked challenges make sense for MacDonald. He’s beat Nos. 3,7,8, and will No. 9 this weekend.

That’s an impressive resume, but MacDonald hasn’t exactly been finishing fights the way you’d expect of a title contender in perhaps the toughest division in all of MMA. His last stoppage was a TKO over Che Mills at UFC 145 nearly two-and-a-half years ago. Yet if no one can defeat him, then he’ll be the cerebral, neutralizing force that “GSP” was for all those years.

There are two sides to the tale, and both Hendricks and Lawler would provide a significant threat to “Ares” perceived reign. He’s been nearly dominant save for an unmotivated 2013 that saw a lackluster win and a close loss to a top opponent.

He doesn’t have near the following that St. Pierre did, however, so if he’s going to be an overall popular champion, he’s going to need to stop some fights to get the ball rolling. Will that start against Saffiedine this Saturday?

Photo: Anne-Marie Sorvin for USA TODAY Sports