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Rory MacDonald silenced the critics while retaining his Bellator welterweight title on Friday night.
The Canadian fighter outpointed jiu-jitsu phenom Neiman Gracie in the main event of Bellator 222, which took place at MSG in New York City. “The Red King” will now take on Douglas Lima later this year to close out the Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix. MacDonald vs. Gracie topped the action-packed event where fans saw Chael Sonnen retired following stoppage loss to Lyoto Machida, Kyoji Horiguchi defeat Darrion Caldwell for a second time to win the Bellator 135-pound title, and much more.
Below is how the pros reacted to the Bellator 222 main card:
Rory MacDonald def. Neiman Gracie
Easy win for Rory
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) June 15, 2019
I miss watching Rory fight #Bellator222
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 15, 2019
Solid performance by Rory, but still plenty of unanswered questions when it comes to a rematch with @PhenomLima
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) June 15, 2019
great technical fight @rory_macdonald great hand speed , wrestling was very solid , sub defense was superb! finals @PhenomLima two nice guys. @NeimanGracie solid ! @RenzoGracieBJJ #Champ Wrestling was good but can be better, striking same. Juijitz avg.
— Mark Coleman (@Markcolemanmma) June 15, 2019
Roy McDonald is so technical and smooth on the feet. One of cleanest jabs in MMA !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 15, 2019
Lyoto Machida def. Chael Sonnen
Parabéns @lyotomachidafw! Deu um show.
— Patricky Freire (@PatrickyPitbull) June 15, 2019
Congratulations on a good career @ChaelSonnen, you changed the way to promote fights and make them interesting. All the best to you in the future.
— Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) June 15, 2019
Hope you have a happy retirement @ChaelSonnen, congratulations on your career and changing the game.
— Patricky Freire (@PatrickyPitbull) June 15, 2019
You’re the man @ChaelSonnen!!!! Happy retirement!
— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) June 15, 2019
To this day @ChaelSonnen is the nicest fighter I’ve ever met. Congrats on an incredible career Chael. #bellator223
— Scott Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) June 15, 2019
Congratulations @ChaelSonnen on a great, successful and entertaining career!
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) June 15, 2019
Machida’s striking is just ill
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 15, 2019
We appreciate you, Chael. #Bellator222
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) June 15, 2019
Machida ain’t done yet! He actually looks great physically! I’m gonna start drinking my own pee!
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) June 15, 2019
The American gentleman @ChaelSonnen enjoy retirement #Bellator222 @BellatorMMA
— Cris Cyborg on Youtube (@criscyborg) June 15, 2019
Very good performance for Machida #bellator
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) June 15, 2019
Omg. The original AMERICAN GANGSTER!!! @ChaelSonnen https://t.co/dqXJuM2k5Q
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) June 15, 2019
Dillon Danis def. Max Humphrey
Congrats @ParadigmSM alumni @dillondanis and a big @BellatorMMA win tonight. #bellator222
— Cris Cyborg on Youtube (@criscyborg) June 15, 2019
Hot take: The @ilimanator Vs @dillondanis beef is the best beef in bellator right now. #Bellator222
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) June 15, 2019
The idea of feeding guys opponents with bad records in major promotions is hurtful to my eyes . I want to watch a fight at least thinking the other guy has a chance to win ...
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 15, 2019
Why didnt Dillion Danis get the Aaron Pico treatment ?! Their level of comp isn’t the same #askforafriend
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 15, 2019
♂️
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 15, 2019
tomatoe can win
— Mitch Gagnon (@MitchGagnonUFC) June 15, 2019
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Darrion Caldwell
Congrats @kyoji1012 https://t.co/ab7cKiZ99B
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) June 15, 2019
Judges got it right in my opinion. Good positioning, but not enough work on top from Caldwell
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) June 15, 2019
That was awful. I understand winning at all cost but I feel robbed. What tf was that. #Bellator222
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 15, 2019
Caldwell is way too talented to be having those kinds of fights. Wrestling is phenomenal but he needs to develop some type of GnP game. That’s always been my critique of him. #Bellator222
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 15, 2019
Very first cross promotion champion... Congratulations to @kyoji1012 & @mikebrownmma !!! #Bellator222
— Jessica Jag Aguilar (@jagatt) June 15, 2019
#RIZINFF pic.twitter.com/TLHEE3QxLB
— RIZIN FF (@RIZINFF) June 15, 2019
Flyweights taking over bantamweight... #bellator222
— Zachary Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) June 15, 2019
Juan Archuleta def. Eduardo Dantas
What a knockout! Geeez!! Archuleta! #Bellator222
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 15, 2019
Wow!!! What a KO right before the bell for Archuleta. Beautiful. He frustrated Dante’s and made him chase before catching him! #BellatorMMA
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) June 15, 2019
Patrick Mix def. Ricky Bandejas
.@TeamMixMMA has my attention. Fantastic @BellatorMMA debut tonight. #Bellator222
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) June 15, 2019
Patrick Mix!! Super impressive!! What a transition and finish over a super tough Bandejas!! #Bellator222 https://t.co/DhVxHn19xo
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) June 15, 2019
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