Rory MacDonald put the sword to BJ Penn last night in some style at ‘UFC On FOX 5’, but some fans weren’t so keen on some of his showboating antics – doing the ‘Ali Shuffle’ amongst other things in the later rounds in front of the wilting Hawaiian.
However, the welterweight star was adamant in his post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani that he wasn’t showing off.
“That wasn’t showboating,” MacDonald claimed. “It was just variety, trying to mix it up, different distances – it’s not showboating, it’s just a part of martial arts.”
As for his overall performance, MacDonald describes it as “bittersweet,” due to the fact he couldn’t stop the former lightweight and welterweight champion.
“I was happy with a lot of it. I’m pissed I didn’t finish him though, you know? I aim to finish and I didn’t, so the job’s not done for me, so it’s bitter-sweet, but happy.”
Having said that he knew that Penn was going to be tough to finish.
“I know he’s a tough guy, he’s like a juggernaught, you know, so I knew it would take everything I had to put him down. It was what I expected, pretty much.”
Not resting on his laurels after the biggest win of his career, MacDonald has now called out former No.1 contender Carlos Condit who mounted a last gasp comeback to defeat him in 2010.
“I was humiliated, embarassed after that fight. I think about that fight all the time – it haunts me and I really need to get past that chapter in my life.”
Now he’s just hoping that Condit accepts the fight.
“My challenge is out there, it’s up to him Carlos to accept my challenge. And I know he’s a warrior and I don’t think he would decline. I mean, he’s coming off a loss, he’s got to fight somebody – might as well be me.”
