Round 1: No touch of gloves in this one. They meet in the middle of the cage. MacDonald works his jab. Ellenberger misses with a big combination. Both fighters being careful early. MacDonald steps in with a jab. MacDonald inches forward. Ellenberger steps in with a left hand. MacDonald using his jab well. Ellenberger moves in with a knee to the body. Ellenberger trying to time MacDonald. MacDonald continues to throw his jab. Ellenberger loads up with two left hands that miss. They clinch at the bell. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for MacDonald with his jab.
Round 2: MacDonald goes right back to utilizing his jab. Ellenberger having problems getting inside MacDonald’s reach. MacDonald dictating the pace. Ellenberger has been largely inactive. He changes levels and looks for a takedown. He gives up on it and lands an uppercut on the break. MacDonald is landing his jab regularly. MacDonald looks for a takedown and lands a knee to the body. MacDonald goes high with a kick that is partially blocked. Ellenberger rushes in but MacDonald moves away. MacDonald lands a kick to the body. Ellenberger looks frustrate as the bell sounds. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for MacDonald.
Round 3: MacDonald throws two front kicks that keep Ellenberger on the outside. Ellenberger plows forward and MacDonald meets him with a jab. MacDonald goes to the body with a left hook. MacDonald lands his jab. Ellenberger moves in with a combination and a right hand gets through. MacDonald goes to the body with a front kick. He goes back to landing his jab. Ellenberger picking up the pace. MacDonald continues to land his jab. Two minutes remain in the round. The crowd is booing. MacDonald lands another front kick. MacDonald lands a right hand. Ellenberger answers with a right of his own followed by a double leg takedown. MacDonald ties up one arm. MacDonald works for a submission in the final seconds. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for MacDonald.
The judges score the fight for Rory MacDonald. The scorecards read 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27.