SPORTS

Canadian Rory MacDonald to return to UFC action in Ottawa

The Canadian Press Published Saturday, March 5, 2016 9:03AM EST

Welterweight fighter Rory MacDonald salutes the crowd during weigh-ins for UFC 189 mixed martial arts bouts, in Las Vegas on Friday, July 10, 2015. (LE Baskow/Las Vegas Sun)

Text:

TORONTO -- Canadian Rory (Red King) MacDonald will fight American Steven (Wonderboy) Thompson on June 18 in a matchup of top welterweight contenders as the UFC makes its debut in Ottawa.

MacDonald (18-3-0) is currently ranked No 1 among 170-pound contenders. Thompson (12-1-0) is No. 2, moving up the rankings after stopping former champion Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks in the first round last month.

McDonald last fought at UFC 189 last July when the 26-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., who trains in Montreal, was stopped in the fifth round by champion (Ruthless) Robbie Lawler.

The Ottawa card will be televised.