• UFC on Fox 5

MacDonald hits back at Penn

ESPN staff
August 19, 2012
Rory MacDonald is ready to fight BJ Penn © Getty Images
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Welterweight Rory MacDonald is adamant he will beat BJ Penn when they finally meet in the Octagon in December, saying he might "end up killing him in the process".

MacDonald was due to face Penn, returning from retirement, in September, before a cut sustained in training forced him to pull out of the bout in Toronto. Penn initially suggested that the youngster was ducking him in order to avoid a defeat, but MacDonald is adamant that was not the case.

"That's just a bunch of bull****," MacDonald told Sportsnet. "Because not only do I know I'm gonna win, but I'll probably end up killing him in the process."

Talking about inflicting serious injury in MMA is usually frowned upon due to the dangerous nature of the sport, but MacDonald went on to insist that Penn had not managed to get in his head - he was simply very disappointed to have to wait to fight.

The contest has been re-arranged for UFC on Fox 5 in December, although MacDonald suggested that Penn had yet to officially agree to the new date.

"I'm so disappointed I didn't get to fight on September 22," MacDonald said. "Not only beccause it was in Canada, but everything was going perfect - my mental side of things, my physical abilities. Everything was on point. I never felt so good."

He added: "He can't rile me up. I just think he's a joker. He's trying to get attention…he can do what he wants. I just want him to accept the fight for December."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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