Yet another top level fighter joins Bellator MMA.

After Months of speculation and rumors that Rory MacDonald may leave the UFC for, potentially, greener pastures, there has now been confirmation that the standout welterweight has now joined the ranks of Bellator MMA. The news was confirmed by FloCombat earlier today and marks yet another time when a top UFC fighter has left the promotion ranks for the UFC, other notables being Roger Huerta and Benson Henderson. After suffering a defeat at the hands of Stephen Thompson last June, many wondered what MacDonald’s next move would be. The Thompson fight was the last on MacDonald’s contract which meant the potential for him to explore free agency was an open option. Now with this new acquisitions things are sure to get interesting between the UFC and Bellator MMA moving forward. This is indeed an interesting turn of events as the UFC has lost another hot commodity with the loss of MacDonald. As one of the top welterweights in the game, and one of the bigger draws in the Canadian market, the loss of MacDonald may be a pretty big blow to the UFC’s brand. It may be a sign that Bellator MMA has a more competitive pay rate and could be the beginning of a change in how both major fight promotions are perceived. Will this be the beginning of a major shift in the MMA world? Could Bellator MMA become an avenue for fighters that can eventually rival the UFC in terms of marketing and promotion? Only time will tell, but for now we’re all left to speculate what the future will bring. Do you think Rory MacDonald leaving the UFC was the right choice? Let us know by hitting up our comments below or head on over to our official Facebook and Twitter.

Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Twitter and Facebook to keep up with his antics.