Scott Coker Provides Update On Rory MacDonald’s Contract

This past weekend, Rory MacDonald dropped the Bellator welterweight championship to Douglas Lima. Lima beat Rory in the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix, thereby collecting $1 million, along with the welterweight crown. “The Red King” has been contemplating walking away from the sport for a while now, saying he sometimes doesn’t have the urge to hurt people anymore.

Following his most recent loss, MacDonald told the media that he fought out his contract, but would be more than willing to fight Lima again in a rubber match. Bellator MMA president Scott Coker however told the media that Rory’s contract with the promotion hasn’t expired yet.

“Rory’s contract has not expired, and we have remaining rights”, Coker told MMA Fighting.

While Coker did not go into specifics or details of the existing contract, promotions usually have a frozen period for exclusive negotiation rights, usually for about 90 days, during which time they can come to terms for a new contract. While the fighters are free to talk to other promotions after this period, there is a matching period, during which time the promotion has the right to either match the offer from a different promotion, or refuse the opportunity.

Following his loss to Lima, MacDonald said he’d be open for a trilogy fight, but that he first has to negotiate the contractual terms with the promotion.

“It’s kind of inevitable that we’ll probably fight again”, Rory told MMA Junkie. “I wouldn’t say no. If they want to do it, they can do it. First I’ve got to re-sign. My contract expired. We’ve got to deal with that situation. Obviously if they want to give a title shot, sure.”

And the Bellator MMA president said he’d be happy to tie Rory down to a longer contract.

“I think he’s a great fighter”, he said. “I think he’s probably the No. 2 welterweight in our roster, so yeah, we would love to. But we’ll see.”

Rory MacDonald has gone 3-2-1 since signing with Bellator MMA, dropping losses to Mousasi and Lima.

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