Pyle-MacDonald Added to UFC 133 in Philadelphia

Welterweight prospect Rory MacDonald returns on Aug. 6. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

The UFC announced on its official website Monday that Pyle and MacDonald have “verbally agreed” to square off at the event, which takes place at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. It is unknown whether the 170-pound bout will be part of the show’s pay-per-view card, which is topped by a light heavyweight No. 1 contender’s matchup between former champ Rashad Evans and unbeaten prospect Phil Davis.

Pyle, 35, carries a career record of 21-7-1 into the contest and has earned 16 wins via submission. The well-traveled “Quicksand” joined the UFC in May 2009, after nearly 10 years as a professional, and has compiled an Octagon mark of 4-2. Pyle, a member of Randy Couture’s Xtreme Couture squad, has won three in a row since being punched out by Jake Ellenberger in January 2010, most recently earning a unanimous decision over Ricardo Almeida in March.

Looking to halt the vet’s momentum will be MacDonald, 21, who comes off the strongest win of his young career. After falling to former WEC champ Carlos Condit in his second UFC start, the Canadian prospect bounced back with a hard-earned unanimous nod over Nate Diaz at UFC 129 on April 30. The three-round affair marked MacDonald’s first time going the distance; his 11-1 ledger contains six submission wins and four victories by way of knockout.