Jason MacDonald

Jason Anthony MacDonald (born June 3, 1975) is a Canadian former mixed martial artist. A professional from 1999 until 2013, he is perhaps best remembered for his two stints in the UFC, but also fought for King of the Cage, and the Maximum Fighting Championship. Known for his grappling skills, 19 of his 25 career wins came by way of submission.

Mixed martial arts career Early career MacDonald began his career in local Canadian promotions, including the MFC, racking up a 16-7 professional record which included wins over UFC veterans Joe Doerksen, Gideon Ray, and Bill Mahood.

Ultimate Fighting Championship MacDonald made his UFC debut on October 10, 2006, at Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3: The Final Chapter against the favored The Ultimate Fighter 3 finalist Ed Herman. In an upset, MacDonald won the bout via triangle choke in the first round. MacDonald followed up the performance with a win over The Ultimate Fighter 1 veteran Chris Leben via modified guillotine choke in the second round. Both victories earned Submission of the Night honors.

MacDonald lost in competition at UFC 68 with a match-up against Rich Franklin in his first appearance since losing the UFC Middleweight Championship to Anderson Silva. Franklin mounted MacDonald in the final seconds of round two, causing enough injury to MacDonald's left eye area that his corner advised him to throw in the towel, and Franklin was declared the winner.

At UFC 72, MacDonald rebounded from his loss to Franklin with a second-round TKO victory over Rory Singer. This marked his third victory over The Ultimate Fighter veterans.

At UFC 77, MacDonald faced Yushin Okami, who was coming off a loss to Franklin in a title contention elimination bout. MacDonald lost the fight via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

MacDonald fell back from the defeat at UFC 83, defeating Joe Doerksen via TKO (elbows) in the second round and earning a $75,000 bonus for Knockout of the Night in the process. A small controversy erupted after MacDonald landed two hammerfists after it appeared the fight had been stopped. In an interview the day after the fight, MacDonald explained that the referee had instructed him to continue fighting and had even apologized to him for his error in judgment.

At UFC 87, MacDonald faced Brazilian Demian Maia. The fight took place almost completely on the ground, with MacDonald escaping numerous submission attempts. Ultimately in the third round, Maia locked in a rear-naked choke for the victory.

Only a month later, MacDonald went on to fight as a replacement for Jason Day at UFC 88. He won against Jason Lambert at 1:20 of round two by rear-naked choke, earning his third Submission of the Night bonus.

MacDonald followed up with a bout at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs Team Mir Finale against Wilson Gouveia. MacDonald lost the fight via submission due to elbows after being dropped with a glancing left jab by Gouveia and pounded on for the stoppage.

At UFC 97, MacDonald suffered a first-round TKO loss to Nate Quarry due to elbows from a mounted position.

Despite earlier suggestions from Dana White that MacDonald's position in the UFC roster was safe despite his recent lack of success, the UFC released MacDonald several weeks later. Matchmaker Joe Silva commented that the door would be left open for MacDonald to return should he earn a few more victories in smaller promotions.

Post-UFC Release At the MFC 21 event on May 15, 2009, MacDonald announced that he was returning to the Canadian promotion Maximum Fighting Championship. He fought Travis Lutter in the main event of MFC 22 on October 2, 2009, losing a unanimous decision.

Jason MacDonald faced TUF 3 competitor and fellow UFC veteran Solomon Hutcherson at MFC 23 defeating him by split decision giving MacDonald his fifth victory over a TUF competitor.

On March 20, 2010, MacDonald replaced Denis Kang in the main event of W1 Bad Blood. He defeated Vernon White in the 3rd round via triangle choke.

On April 23, 2010, MacDonald defeated Matt Horwich via unanimous decision in the main event of the very first Let's Get It On MMA tournament event.

Return to the UFC MacDonald returned to the UFC and faced up and coming wrestler John Salter on May 8, 2010, at UFC 113, replacing an injured Nick Catone. After 2:42 of the first round, MacDonald's leg broke during a takedown attempt by Salter and the fight was stopped, declaring Salter the winner by TKO due to injury.

MacDonald was scheduled to face Rafael Natal on December 11, 2010, at UFC 124, but pulled out of the fight after suffering an injury in training.

Nearly a year after his last bout, MacDonald fought and submitted Ryan Jensen via first-round triangle choke at UFC 129 on April 30, 2011.

MacDonald faced Alan Belcher on September 17, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 25, losing via verbal submission due to strikes in the first round.

MacDonald faced Tom Lawlor on May 15, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier. He lost the fight via KO in the first round. On February 28, 2013, MacDonald announced his retirement from MMA, leaving his UFC record standing at 6-8.

MMA Business MacDonald owns and runs his own gym, Pure Fitness & MMA, located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He also runs his own fight promotion called Pure Fighting Championship. He manages a number of Canadian professional MMA fighters, including Ryan Machan, Evan Sanguin, George Belanger and Derek Clark.

Personal life MacDonald and his wife Kelly have four children, sons Tristin and Keel and daughters Jett and True.

Jason is also a CrossFit Trainer, and works for CrossFit HQ co-teaching the CrossFit Level 1 Trainer Certification course.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Joe Doerksen Submission of the Night (Three times) vs. Chris Leben, Ed Herman, Jason Lambert UFC.com Awards 2006: Ranked #4 Submission of the Year 2008: Ranked #5 Fight of the Year Absolute Fighting Championships AFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Tom Lawlor KO (punch) UFC on Fuel TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier

Fairfax, Virginia, United States Loss

Alan Belcher Submission (punches) UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

Ryan Jensen Submission (triangle choke) UFC 129

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Loss

John Salter TKO (leg injury) UFC 113

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Matt Horwich Decision (unanimous) LGIO MMA 1: MacDonald vs Horwich

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Vernon White Submission (triangle choke) W-1 MMA 4: Bad Blood

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Solomon Hutcherson Decision (split) MFC 23

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

Travis Lutter Decision (unanimous) MFC 22

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

Nate Quarry TKO (elbows) UFC 97

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Loss

Wilson Gouveia Submission (elbows) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jason Lambert Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 88

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Submission of the Night. Loss

Demian Maia Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 87

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Win

Joe Doerksen TKO (elbows) UFC 83

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Knockout of the Night. Loss

Yushin Okami Decision (unanimous) UFC 77

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Win

Rory Singer TKO (punches and elbows) UFC 72

Belfast, Northern Ireland Loss

Rich Franklin TKO (corner stoppage) UFC 68

Columbus, Ohio, United States Win

Chris Leben Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 66

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Submission of the Night. Win

Ed Herman Submission (triangle choke) Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3: The Final Chapter

Hollywood, Florida, United States Submission of the Night. Win

Neil Berry Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 10: Unfinished Business

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Fritz Paul Technical Submission (kimura) ECC 3: East Coast Warriors

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Win

Jerry Spiegel TKO (punches) ECC 2: Collision Course

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Win

Gideon Ray Decision (unanimous) Extreme Cage Combat 1

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Loss

Patrick Cote Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 9: No Excuses

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

Kalib Starnes TKO (punches) National Fighting Challenge 5

North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Joe Doerksen Submission (rear-naked choke) Ultimate Cage Wars 3

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Win

Chris Fontaine Submission (rear naked choke) MFC 8: Resurrection

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

Shonie Carter Decision (unanimous) TKO 21: Collision

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Loss

Marvin Eastman Decision (unanimous) WEF: Sin City

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jason Brilz Decision (split) KOTC:: Edmonton

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Loss

Matt Horwich Submission (armbar) Extreme Fighting Challenge 3

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada Win

Antony Rea Submission (scarf hold armlock) Absolute Fighting Championships 8

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Win

Ulysses Castro Submission (rear-naked choke) Adrenaline Fighting Championships 1

Langley, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Bill Mahood TKO (punches) MFC 7: Undisputed

Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada Win

Jeromie Sills Submission (triangle choke) MFC 6: Road To Gold

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Win

Yan Pellerin Submission (heel hook) MFC: Unplugged

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Cameron Brown Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 5: Sweet Redemption

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Shannon Ritch Submission (rear-naked choke) MFC 4: New Groundz

Calgary, Alberta, Canada Win

Chris Peak Submission (keylock) MFC 3: Canadian Pride

Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada Win

Bill Mahood Technical Submission (guillotine choke) MFC 2: Rumble at the Jungle

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Win

Shane Biever Submission (choke) Northern Lights Out

Alberta, Canada Win

Ken Manderson Submission (armbar) Punch and Crunch

Calgary, Alberta, Canada