UFC’s White: MacDonald vs. Lawler likely next

Rory MacDonald's only loss came to Carlos Condit at UFC 115 in 2010. (AP/The News-Journal, Suchat Pederson)

Dana White says that Canadian welterweight Rory MacDonald’s next test inside the Octagon will likely be against Robbie Lawler.

Following the UFC Fight Night 26 post-fight press conference Saturday in Boston, the UFC president told reporters that the organization is looking at a potential MacDonald-Lawler matchup and that it could happen soon.

“We like that fight. I think (it will happen),” White said.

MacDonald (15-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jake Ellenberger on July 27. Despite the win, White and others criticized MacDonald for his performance because the fight didn’t live up the hype surrounding it and some viewed it as boring.

Lawler (21-9, 1 NC) meanwhile is coming off two consecutive knockout wins, the latest of which happened just minutes before MacDonald’s bout with Ellenberger, as Lawler finished Bobby Voelker with a head kick on the July 27 Seattle card.

The potential bout has not been finalized and no date or location has been set.

If Lawler and MacDonald were to meet, the winner would likely emerge as the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s 170-pound division.

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