Rory MacDonald responds to Gegard Mousasi, still plans move to middleweight after title defense

Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald is still planning a move to the middleweight division. However, there’s one thing he wants to accomplish first.

With Bellator having recently announced its next 185-pound title fight between champ Rafael Carvalho (15-1 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) and challenger Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) for Bellator 200, MacDonald (20-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) has an eye on the winner.

First, though, MacDonald intends on defending his 170-pound title. He’s not sure against whom, but the Canadian said it’s the only roadblock preventing him from changing weight classes.

“Absolutely, if I defend my belt, another time I would love to fight for the middleweight title,” MacDonald told MMAjunkie. “If Mousasi is the champion, or ever Carvalho, I would love to compete against them in the future. But I would like to defend my title at 170 at least one more time.”

A matchup between MacDonald and Mousasi, in particular, would likely draw the attention of more than just the average Bellator viewer. Mousasi already has made some strong comments about the potential matchup, calling MacDonald an “easy fight” compared to some of the larger athletes he’s faced throughout his career.

For MacDonald, though, changing weight classes is not necessarily about the opponent. He simply wants a chance to become the first simultaneous two-division champion in Bellator history. And to him, it doesn’t matter who is holding the strap.

“I know Mousasi’s fighting in May there, and I think it’s a good fight for the title,” MacDonald. “It’s a good fight for the title there with Carvalho, and I’d love to fight either one of them.”

For more on Bellator 200, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.