Rory MacDonald recently bid farewell to the sport after a career spanning over almost 17 years. 'Red King' announced his retirement in the aftermath of his defeat to Dilano Taylor in a 2022 PFL semifinals matchup.MMA Junkie@MMAJunkieFormer Bellator champ and UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald confirms he's retired from MMA. Full story: bit.ly/3SPg6fz1769139Former Bellator champ and UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald confirms he's retired from MMA. 🙏Full story: bit.ly/3SPg6fz https://t.co/bwCDs2Ke0MAaron Bronsteter@aaronbronsteterA message from @rory_macdonald twitter.com/aaronbronstete…Aaron Bronsteter@aaronbronsteterRory MacDonald's wife posted the following images on her Instagram story."Rory has hung up the gloved and (is) very much at peace with it"(h/t to r/MMA on Reddit)20117Rory MacDonald's wife posted the following images on her Instagram story."Rory has hung up the gloved and (is) very much at peace with it"(h/t to r/MMA on Reddit) https://t.co/bHV9hDyrKUA message from @rory_macdonald twitter.com/aaronbronstete… https://t.co/qXmVxJo1jlFans paid tribute to MacDonald, who is widely considered one of the most entertaining fighters to have ever played the sport. Noting the progressive changes in MacDonald's style throughout his career, @mormon_mma wrote:"Rory has almost had 3 different careers in mma. He was a brawler then turned into a technical striker then ended up predominantly grappling to win fights. I can only assume that's indicative of his desires in the sport as he aged. Thanks for the violence red king"Kermit Jagger@mormon_mma@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Rory has almost had 3 different careers in mma. He was a brawler then turned into a technical striker then ended up predominantly grappling to win fights. I can only assume that's indicative of his desires in the sport as he aged. Thanks for the violence red king1@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Rory has almost had 3 different careers in mma. He was a brawler then turned into a technical striker then ended up predominantly grappling to win fights. I can only assume that's indicative of his desires in the sport as he aged. Thanks for the violence red kingWhile fans lauded MacDonald's career, some noted that the Canadian's contribution to the sport may go unnoticed.welshbinman@welshbinman@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Absolute pioneer of modern MMA4@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Absolute pioneer of modern MMAwangs@wangs__@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald What a fucking legend. This guy is much more of a pioneer than people will ever care to recognize. Enjoy retirement. 🤙3@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald What a fucking legend. This guy is much more of a pioneer than people will ever care to recognize. Enjoy retirement. 🤙wangs@wangs__@welshbinman @MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald I’m glad someone else use the word pioneer. 100% agree.2@welshbinman @MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald I’m glad someone else use the word pioneer. 100% agree.thomasrichie315@gmail.com@thomasrichie315@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Much respect to one of the OG's of MMA! Rory Macdonald was one of the toughest fighters to ever grace the Cage the man is a legend!! Wish you the best Rory and thanks for all the great fights @MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Much respect to one of the OG's of MMA! Rory Macdonald was one of the toughest fighters to ever grace the Cage the man is a legend!! Wish you the best Rory and thanks for all the great fights 🔥💪Pure Finishes@PureKnockouts@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Sad to hear you were a great fighter red king!! @rory_macdonald151@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Sad to hear you were a great fighter red king!! @rory_macdonald https://t.co/Y5XEzShnKPBuffalo Sparty@Sparty_VZ@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Loved watching him fight. Twas a privilege and an honor. HOpe he has a great post-fight life.41@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Loved watching him fight. Twas a privilege and an honor. HOpe he has a great post-fight life.JV@MrJokerSir@aaronbronsteter @rory_macdonald A Legend. Hope nothing but the best for him from here on out. He's earned it. Enjoy your retirement.4@aaronbronsteter @rory_macdonald A Legend. Hope nothing but the best for him from here on out. He's earned it. Enjoy your retirement.Some fans were also glad to see the true veteran finally hanging up his gloves after a lifetime of fighting.Lost In LA 🍊@lost_in_la@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Superb fighter and athlete, but nice to know Rory won't put himself through any more wars.@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Superb fighter and athlete, but nice to know Rory won't put himself through any more wars.Yasuke@KombatJunky@deadeditors_ @MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Yea but he started competing when most started training. His body as been through enough, it’s the right call.8@deadeditors_ @MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald Yea but he started competing when most started training. His body as been through enough, it’s the right call.Fans also inevitably recalled MacDonald's epic UFC 189 clash against Robbie Lawler, which was deemed one of the greatest fights of all time.Laksh_SZN 02@LakshSzn@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald This fight took many years off him.But,bro gave the fight of the decade imo. Respect9@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald This fight took many years off him.But,bro gave the fight of the decade imo. Respect https://t.co/jsoF2dI6a0The Situation@JimGall92@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald This man’s career ended here.4@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald This man’s career ended here. https://t.co/gGeUOq0INhDaniel Najar@najar@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald R3 of the Lawler rematch is a moment I’ll never forget 51@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald R3 of the Lawler rematch is a moment I’ll never forget 🔥𝓐𝓵𝓽𝓒𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓼.𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓱@salleh@MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald That Lawler fight gotta be one of the most brutally beautiful fight in mma! @MMAJunkie @rory_macdonald That Lawler fight gotta be one of the most brutally beautiful fight in mma! 👊Rory MacDonald claims that a PFL title win would have been the greatest achievement of his careerRory MacDonald was twenty years old when he signed with the UFC in 2010, five years after his pro debut. Training alongside Georges St-Pierre at the Tristar MMA in Montreal, 'Red King' was touted as the next big thing at welterweight.After an impressive seven years in the promotion, MacDonald left the UFC for a lucrative deal in Bellator where he went on to become the welterweight champ. The Canadian faced semi-final exits in back-to-back PFL seasons before his retirement.Despite making his way to a UFC title shot at one point, MacDonald believes a PFL title victory would be his greatest career achievement. 'Red King' told MMA Fighting in the lead-up to his semi-final bout against Dilano Taylor:“It’s really tough field to go out there and compete against these guys year after year. PFL is no joke. You’ve got to be one of the best in the world to get through this. It’s an honor to compete against these guys who are grinding through it the same as me. From personal experience, it’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve had to do to win a championship in my career. The back-to-back fights, it’s a huge challenge. It would probably be my biggest achievement personally.”