Rory MacDonald on UFC negotiations: 'I'm the guy in the Canadian market right now'

If Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) wants to maintain its considerable presence in Canada, it may want to open its checkbook to retain the top mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter (not named Georges St-Pierre) in that market, who just so happens to run out of fights in a couple of weeks.

That's according to Rory MacDonald.

"Red King" will finish out his existing ZUFFA contract in the wake of his UFC Fight Night 89 headliner against Stephen Thompson, which takes place on Sat., June 18, 2016, inside The Arena at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on FOX Sports 1.

As he told The Fight Network (via MMA Fighting), his value to the local fans sometimes gets lost during negotiations.

"I think it's important to get it out there. It's a known topic about fighter pay now and I think it's beneficial to me that I get it out there too so when it comes time to negotiate I have other sources to talk with. It's a known thing, people are buzzing about it. It's a good thing. Now that I have a little girl on the way, I want to be able to provide everything she's gonna need in her life. So that's a big motivator to start getting paid for this because it doesn't last forever. I want big money fights because first and foremost I think I'm worth it. I think I bring a lot to the table, I think I bring a lot of viewers. I think I'm the guy in the Canadian market right now, and I think that is a huge factor that is forgotten in some negotiations, but you know, we're gonna see how it plays out."

Bellator MMA is likely the leading candidate outside UFC.

How much MacDonald can expect to see at the bargaining table may depend on his performance against Thompson. While "Red King" is ranked No. 1 in the welterweight division, his technical knockout loss to Robbie Lawler last summer would signal a downturn if it's followed by another high-profile defeat to "Wonderboy."

I guess this is what they mean by "must win."