Report: Rory MacDonald Versus Robbie Lawler Likely for UFC 167
By FCF Staff
Following their respective wins at UFC on FOX 8 in July, Dana White said he was interested in booking Robbie Lawler versus Rory MacDonald, and the bout appears to be a done deal.
According to a report from MMA Junkie.com, MacDonald and Lawler have verbally agreed to fight at UFC 167 on November 16th, in Las Vegas. MacDonald’s teammate, welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, is set to fight Johny Hendricks that same night.
The UFC has not made any official announcement regarding the bout.
MacDonald worked his way to a unanimous decision win over Jake Ellenberger at UFC on FOX 8, but the fight was criticized by White and fans for its slow pace. As a result, White relayed he wanted to match MacDonald up against the feared slugger Lawler, who scored a KO win over Bobby Voelker that same night.
MacDonald (15-1) has won five straight fights to secure the #3 spot in the welterweight division.
Lawler (21-9), meanwhile, stopped Josh Koscheck in his UFC return this past February, after losing by unanimous decision to Lorenz Larkin last July. The veteran is currently ranked #9.
UFC 167 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.