The Athlete's submissions

I just got home after a good vacation in Mexico with my family. I basically sat on my butt for a week because I knew I had an upcoming fight in May so it was time to relax.

I think that's my first time in my life I've ever had a vacation where I really didn't do anything. I played with my kids by the pool, and mostly just relaxed. But now I'm back and starting Monday I'll return to training camp and a busy life. As many of you have heard, I'll be fighting Tom Lawlor on May 15 in Fairfax, Va. What many may not have known was that I was really contemplating retirement and I actually stepped away from the sport completely.

I haven't trained a day since my last fight against Alan Belcher in September. It's the first time I've ever done that in my entire fighting career. Even when I had my ankle injury, and I was out for a year, I still spent time thinking about fighting. When I was laid out in bed in a cast, I was still thinking about when I'll be fighting again, when I'll get back into training.

This time it was a pure hiatus. I never thought about fighting, never worried about my weight, nothing.

I think it was a good little step away for me, but I'm excited to get back. I'm excited but dreading getting back into training because I know there will be a couple weeks of soreness waiting for me.

But I'm looking forward to my fight. Tom Lawlor is a good matchup for me. And there's lots of time. When I first agreed to the fight it was originally slated for Atlanta in April, but then it was moved to Virginia in May. I'm okay with the change. I've been to Atlanta before, but I've never been to Virginia so it's a new place to travel to and a new experience.

I'm also happy about the extra three weeks I'll have. Even when it was scheduled for the end of April, there was lots of time, but this is even better.

I read the other day on the forum on some other MMA site, under the announcement of my fight with Lawlor, someone had posted a comment that read along the lines of: "Who really cares about either of these guys? MacDonald's just a punching bag for the younger guys." I thought to myself, "When have I fought a younger guy?" I'd love to fight younger, less experience guys! Apart from John Salter, in the fight where I broke my ankle, I've been fighting all veterans. And Salter didn't even punch me!

As a fighter, you can't go on the internet because you're going to give yourself a complex. How do I take a comment like that? Either I suck, or I'm too old. No matter what way I take it, it can't be good.

While I was in Mexico, I was looking forward to watching the UFC fights last Saturday and I was excited to find on the TV in my hotel room I had an English FOX sports channel. Unfortunately the entire time we were there, all they ever showed on that channel was soccer. So yet again I missed a big night of fights. I can't remember the last time I watched a fight live.

I was looking forward to the Chael Sonnen-Michael Bisping fight. It sounds like Bisping made it a pretty good fight. Some people have said Bisping looked good, some said Sonnen looked bad, and some said Sonnen controlled the whole fight, so I'm not really sure what to believe.

I guess no matter what, I should give Bisping more credit from now on. He's clearly a legitimate contender at middleweight. I think they should match him against Vitor Belfort next, but the whole TUF Brazil thing might make that difficult.

Like I said, I didn't see the fight card, but I heard people say that Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman might have been one of the worst fights they've ever seen, and that Rashad Evans-Phil Davis was completely boring, with Evans taking Davis down and holding him for five rounds. So it sounds like, in the end, I didn't miss a lot.

It sure is better hearing that than hearing people say you missed the best fight card in months, like what happened with Shogun-Henderson in November.

Fortunately for me there's a UFC every weekend, and Saturday I'm home and I'm free, so I'm going to tune in for Diaz vs. Condit. And here are my main card picks.

Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title

I agree with Nick Diaz, Condit is being completely overshadowed by everyone talking about Georges St-Pierre. It's unfortunate for Condit, why not let him enjoy his main event status for this fight card?

I think Condit has a chance against Diaz. Diaz is definitely the legitimate No. 1 contender, but Condit has been impressive, and I think he stands a chance.

That being said, I think Diaz is going to win. Diaz will outbox him and submit him. But I don't think it's going to be a blowout by any means.

Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum

This is an interesting matchup. Werdum has put together a pretty good win streak, apart from a bump in the road against Junior Dos Santos and then Alistair Overeem but he's put together some really good wins. And he's not scared to stand and bang. Nelson too, and they're both equally good on the ground. I'll go with the wild card and go with Werdum.

Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce

I like the fight. They're both good wrestlers. Koscheck has faced the tougher competition over his career and I think that gives him the edge. Pierce is a big 170-pounder, he's short but he's strong. It's an interesting fight, but I'm going with Koscheck. Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen

It's pretty hard to bet against a guy on a 28-fight win streak in Barao. I like Jorgensen but it's hard to go against that.

Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks

I've never heard of Starks, but I always enjoy watching Herman fight. He always goes for it. He looked good against Tim Credeur so I'm picking him.

Jason 'The Athlete' MacDonald is a Canadian mixed martial artist. He lives in Red Deer, Alta., with his wife Kelly and four children, boys Tristin and Keel, and girls Jett and True. He blogs regularly for sportsnet.ca.