Rory MacDonald eyes Bellator middleweight and light heavyweight titles, Chael Sonnen fight

Rory MacDonald will get his first opportunity to win Bellator MMA gold when he faces off against current Welterweight champion Douglas Lima on Jan. 20, 2017 in Inglewood, California.

Should he prove victorious, “Red King” has no intention of slowing down, as he tells Bleacher Report he fully intends to go after the promotion’s Middleweight title a few months later.

“I’d have to see the lay of the land at that point, but considering Mousasi and — I forget who he’s fighting for the belt — they’re fighting in, I think, October? I would say let’s fight three months or two months after I fight Lima, if things go well.”

Mousasi will make his promotional debut against former divisional kingpin Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 185 on Oct. 20 live on Spike TV from inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

It won’t however, be for the title as MacDonald alluded to. That said, it’s safe to assume the winner of Mousasi vs. Shlemenko will get next shot at current division kingpin, Rafael Carvalho, should he defeat Alessio Sakara at Bellator 189 on Dec. 9, 2017 in Florence, Italy.

Still, Rory wants to throw his name in the mix, as well.

“I told Rich [Chou] as the matchmaker. I don’t know, though. I don’t know where their vibe is or where their head is. Maybe I’ll have to speak to Scott [Coker] about it and see how things are,” added Rory.” But they know I’m willing and able, so the cards lay in their hands. If the it was my decision, I’d be fighting for the middleweight title a few months after I fight Lima for the welterweight title. I think that keeps the ball rolling and keeps it exciting,” he added.

If he doesn’t get a title fight at 185 pounds and there is no clear-cut contender at 170 pounds, then MacDonald isn’t opposed to facing off against Chael Sonnen.

“Then we see if there’s a welterweight contender or — who knows — maybe that fight with Chael. Who knows? You never know who is ready to go or who is the most exciting at that point. Whatever makes the most sense, I’m game,” he added.

“Me and Chael have expressed interest in fighting each other. I don’t know about any of the other older guys, but I know me and Chael have had our interests in fighting each other. We’ll see if he’s actually man enough to step in there with a guy like me,” concluded Rory.

If that weren’t enough to keep him busy, Rory recently told MMA Fighting he wouldn’t be opposed to facing off against Ryan Bader for the Light Heavyweight title.

“I’d go for three,” MacDonald said. “I’d fight [Ryan] Bader.”

Eat your heart out, Conor.

First thing’s first, however, as MacDonald has a stiff test ahead of him in Lima, as he’s won eight of his last night bouts inside the Bellator MMA cage, including his first-ever successful title defense over another UFC import, Lorenz Larkin, at Bellator NYC this past June.