The 2021 PFL season is getting ready to kick off next month. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve seen the promotion announce the opening matchups for many of their weight classes including the men’s lightweight division.
The first round of lightweight matchups is headlined by the anticipated matchup between Anthony Pettis and Clay Collard. Today, PFL announced the welterweight matchups that will kick off on April 29th.
The headliner of the 4/29 card is the welterweight matchup between Rory MacDonald (21-6-1) and David Michaud (18-6). Michaud is no stranger to the PFL ring. He competed in the 2019 PFL season.
Michaud was stopped in his first fight against Sadibou Sy in just 17 seconds. However, after that fight, Michaud would rattle off three consecutive wins that put him in the PFL season finale against Ray Cooper III.
Ultimately, Michaud was stopped in the second round and came up short in his opportunity to capture PFL gold. Well, the 2019 runner-up gets the biggest matchup in the opening round of the 2021 season.
Rory MacDonald's @ProFightLeague debut headlines #PFL2 on April 29 ? pic.twitter.com/8qfJ6zsoga
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 2, 2021
MacDonald’s PFL Debut
On April 29th, Rory MacDonald will be making his highly anticipated PFL debut. MacDonald is already a veteran of the UFC and Bellator and now he will be trying out the Pro Fight League for the 2021 season.
We haven’t seen MacDonald since he lost to Douglas Lima back at Bellator 232 in October of 2019. That was the final fight on MacDonald’s Bellator contract and the talented welterweight started exploring his options.
In the end, MacDonald decided to sign with PFL for their 2020 season. Of course, the season never happened after COVID shut everything down. Now, more than a year later, MacDonald finally has his PFL debut set.
Rory MacDonald looked like he was going to be the next great superstar in MMA. MacDonald grew up in the sport competing in all areas of martial arts. He was considered to be a new-breed MMA fighter and his mentor was Georges St. Pierre.
However, MacDonald never fully lived up to expectations. MacDonald came within a round of becoming UFC champion, but Robbie Lawler pulled off a rally TKO. MacDonald did become a champion in Bellator, but he couldn’t put together a long reign.
Now, the 31 year old starts off on his new journey with PFL. Considering the length of his career, it’s shocking to think MacDonald is only 31. I’m very excited to watch him compete in this upcoming PFL season. A refreshed Rory MacDonald could mean trouble for the Pro Fight League welterweights.