Michael McDonald (MMA fighter)

Background

McDonald started training in kickboxing at the age of ten, turned to mixed martial arts at 13, started his amateur career at 14, and turned professional at 16 in 2007. He also has two brothers who have professional careers in mixed martial arts. His older brother Justin Smitely is currently signed with Bellator MMA. He trains at Oakdale Mixed Martial Arts with the Last Stand Fight Team. McDonald graduated in 2009 from Grace M. Davis High School where he was voted Best Athlete and Most Likely to Succeed.

Early career

He gained notable wins on the regional circuit defeating WEC veteran Manny Tapia and former WEC Featherweight Champion, Cole Escovedo. Against the latter, McDonald later avenged his only professional defeat, which also earned him the Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight title with a second-round KO. In the summer of 2010, he was listed as one of the top rising stars under the age of 25.

World Extreme Cagefighting

In September 2010, at age 19, McDonald became the youngest fighter on the Zuffa roster when he signed with the WEC. He defeated Clint Godfrey via first round submission in his promotional debut on November 11, 2010 at WEC 52.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.

McDonald was expected to face Nick Pace on March 26, 2011 at UFC Fight Night 24. However, Pace was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Edwin Figueroa. McDonald won the fight via unanimous decision. The fight was highly entertaining with both fighters exchanging strikes and submission attempts throughout the entire fight and earned Fight of the Night honors.

McDonald faced Chris Cariaso on May 30, 2011 at UFC 130, replacing an injured Norifumi Yamamoto. He won the fight via split decision.

McDonald was expected to face Johnny Eduardo on November 19, 2011 at UFC 139. However, Eduardo was forced from the card with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Alex Soto. McDonald defeated Soto via first-round KO, earning Knockout of the Night honors. McDonald clipped Soto with a counter right hand and then swarmed Soto with a flurry of punches against the fence, forcing the referee to stop the bout just 59 seconds into the first round.

McDonald fought former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Angel Torres on April 21, 2012 at UFC 145. He won the fight via first round Knockout.

On December 4, 2012, UFC President Dana White announced that the UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz had reinjured his ACL requiring surgery and would be out for 6–9 months. McDonald faced the UFC Interim Bantamweight Champion Renan Barão on February 16, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald. McDonald was competitive with capable take-down defense and crisp boxing - particularly in the first two rounds - but ultimately succumbed to Barão's more diverse skillset as he mixed in knees and kicks standing together with take-downs. Barão secured an arm-triangle choke at 3:57 of the fourth round, forcing the tap from McDonald.

McDonald faced Brad Pickett on August 17, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26. He dominated the first round, almost finishing Pickett with strikes before gaining a second round submission victory with a triangle choke. The win also earned McDonald his first Submission of the Night award, and he and Pickett earned the Fight of the Night bonus award as well.

McDonald faced Urijah Faber on December 14, 2013 at UFC on Fox 9. After a back and forth first round, Faber stunned McDonald in the second with a flurry of punches, McDonald went to the canvas and Faber jumped on him and finished the fight by submission due to a guillotine choke.

After being sidelined for all of 2014 and 2015 nursing a litany of injuries, including hand and wrist surgeries, McDonald returned to face Masanori Kanehara on January 2, 2016 at UFC 195. He won the fight via submission in the second round, after nearly being submitted himself by an arm-triangle choke in the preceding sequence of the fight. The win also earned McDonald his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

McDonald next faced John Lineker on July 13, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 91. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Bellator MMA

On March 16, 2017, McDonald announced that he was resigning from the UFC due to their dealing with him "very dishonestly and disrespectfully."

On March 24, 2017, McDonald announced he signed a deal with Bellator MMA. McDonald's debut in the promotion has not yet been determined.

• Tachi Palace Fights
  • TPF Bantamweight Championship (One time)
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Edwin Figueroa, Brad Pickett
  • Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Alex Soto
  • Submission of the Night (Two times) vs. Brad Pickett
  • Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Masanori Kanehara