Rory MacDonald made his professional debut at just 16-years of age. Fast forward nine years and he has a shot at the UFC welterweight championship on the horizon.
At UFC 189, MacDonald will square off with current champ Robbie Lawler in a rematch of their 2013 bout, which Lawler won via split decision.
David Lea believes this is Rory MacDonald’s ‘Cinderella Story’
On Friday, MacDonald’s first MMA trainer, David Lea, head coach at Toshido MMA in Kelowna, B.C. took a time machine down memory lane. When MacDonald walked into his gym years ago, Lea said he knew this day would be upon them.
“With the announcement of Rory MacDonald finally getting his shot for the UFC Championship against Robbie Lawler.It took me down memory lane,” Lea said on his official Facebook page. “Call it destiny, call it intuition, or call it absolute naive confidence, but I knew this day was coming over ten years ago. I told Rory right after his pro debut at just age 16 that he was going to be UFC Champion.”
The majority of the now Tristar based fighter’s first bouts were under the King of the Cage banner in Western Canada. He took home two different titles with KOTC and made the jump from lightweight to welterweight as well.
“At 18, Rory became the youngest KOTC National Champion (When that title meant something). At 19, Rory became the youngest KOTC World Champion, and at barely 20 years old, Rory became the youngest fighter on that current UFC roster. I was Rory’s only Jiu-Jitsu coach, striking coach, wrestling coach, and MMA coach throughout this rocket ship ride. It’s hard to explain how close you become with someone you spend hours with sweating, bleeding, crying, fighting, and dreaming together. We share no DNA but Rory is 100% family. I never once doubted that the two of us would ride this rocket right to the UFC Championship Belt.”
Following MacDonald’s first loss of his career, he made the move to Montreal to train with the likes of Georges St-Pierre under the tutelage of Firas Zahabi. Lea still has had his doubts about the direction his young student took in Quebec, however he understood why MacDonald needed to expand as a fighter.
“However, life as it often does, has plans larger then our own, and Rory made the tough decision to move to Montreal where dedicated training partners were in large supply including the man himself, GSP. Do I wish we could have continued expanding and building are home team at Toshido MMA? Absolutely! Do I understand why Rory felt the need to expand as a fighter? Absolutely! I don’t always agree with the direction that Rory’s style has taken in Montreal. Some things seen as weaknesses in Montreal, I feel are Rory’s greatest gifts. However, I have absolute respect for the trainers in Montreal and Firas has shown Rory strategies that will get him to the top.”
MacDonald was what Lea called ‘an awkward teen’ when he walked through his gym doors and has since turned into the number one contender in the UFC’s 170-pound division.
Lea was in MacDonald’s corner for his last bout in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “Red King” finished Tarec Saffiedine by third round TKO to earn the title shot and ‘Performance of the Night’ honors as well.
The one of a kind fighter is on a three-fight winning streak and Lea is as proud as ever of what he calls, ‘NEW UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!’
“In the end, this is a Cinderella story about an awkward teen boy who discovered his passion and was willing to do whatever it took to be the best. Rory, you are one of a kind, and soon to be the NEW UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD! I’m so proud of you! War Rory!”
