Rory MacDonald vs. ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Headlines UFC Fight Night in Ottawa

Ultimate Fighting Championship officials on Friday announced that a welterweight showdown between Rory MacDonald and Stephen Thompson will headline UFC Fight Night in Ottawa on June 18.

Venue and broadcast details have not yet been announced.

The fight will be the first for MacDonald since waging a violent and dramatic war against Robbie Lawler last July. MacDonald stood toe-to-toe with the UFC champ for four grueling rounds, only to be stopped in the final frame. A vicious combo from Lawler shattered the Canadian’s nose, finally stopping the blood-soaked battle.

Lawler remains the only man to defeat MacDonald in over five years inside the Octagon. The Tristar Gym representative has won all eight of his bouts in the UFC dating back to April 2011.

Thompson is coming off the biggest win of his career, a sensational first-round knockout of former welterweight king Johny Hendricks in February. Since dropping a decision to Matt Brown four years ago, the South Carolinian has won six straight with four coming via knockout.