Rory MacDonald is part of the new breed of up and coming fighters in the sport. A "pure" mixed martial artist, MacDonald jumped right into MMA training at the age of fourteen and does not possess a background in any particular discipline. There is a considerable amount of buzz surrounding MacDonald early in his career as he's shown well rounded skills and the potential to do big things fighting at welterweight. Since turning pro at the age of sixteen MacDonald has won all ten of his bouts without ever going to a judge's decision, and already holds credible wins over former King of the Cage Canada Light Heavyweight Champion Nick Hinchliffe by knockout (who had dropped down in weight to fight MacDonald), Sengoku and Pride veteran Clay French (knockout), as well as a stoppage victory of respected Canadian fight vet Kajan Johnson (TKO). Originally fighting at lightweight, MacDonald is a former King of the Cage Canada Lightweight Champion who has grown significantly since entering the sport and now competes as a good sized welterweight. By all accounts he is taking his career very seriously and has spent time training with the likes of Georges St. Pierre and the members of the Tristar Gym, but makes his home training out of Toshido Fighting Arts (located in Kelowna, British Columbia) and is considered one of the very best welterweight prospects on the planet.

MacDonald displays strong wrestling abilities, technical ground skills and an excellent understanding of submissions at a very early age. Physically, MacDonald is extremely strong for a fighter of his size and experience and was easily outmuscling light heavyweight fighter Nick Hinchliffe for the duration of their bout. MacDonald has excellent core strength and has displayed good takedowns, terrific takedown defense, and a strong overall grappling game. He possesses a great top game and is a very composed, technical grappler who keeps his cool and does well to stay out of trouble. MacDonald has very strong positional skills on the ground, controls his opponents well, moves around effortlessly and has very good guard passing abilities. MacDonald has a well rounded and diverse grappling game that features a strong ground and pound attack and a slick submission game (he finished Mike Guymon with a beautiful armbar in his UFC debut). MacDonald is tremendously polished on the ground for a fighter his age and overall he possesses excellent potential in his MMA grappling game.

Like on the ground, MacDonald is extremely composed on his feet, keeping his hand up, chin tucked and does not get wild with his striking. MacDonald has quick instincts and is an effective counter puncher who has good kicks, punches and an intelligent, versatile striking game overall. MacDonald uses his reach and jab to keep an effective range from his opponents, possesses good high kicks, fast hands and shown significant knockout power very early in his career. MacDonald KO'd Nick Hinchliffe with a vicious right hook and also holds a knockout win over H.I.T. Squad member, and former Pride and Senkoku veteran Clay French. Despite his youth, MacDonald's standup game is incredibly refined and he shows very well round potential as a mixed martial artist.