Gallery Photos: Best of Rory MacDonald view 68 images

Jon Fitch is Rory MacDonald’s opening draw in the welterweight grand prix, but the Bellator champion already is looking across the bracket at Michael Page.

MacDonald (20-5 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) needs a change of scenery, and breakout Bellator star Page offers that.

“I would like to (fight him) because I have already fought Paul Daley and beat him. I have already fought Douglas Lima and beat him,” MacDonald told the “McDojo Show. “If there’s one guy left on the other side of the bracket that’s still in it, I would like to fight ‘MVP,’ but may the best man win.”

“The Red King” continues to wait for a date against Fitch (31-7-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) – Bellator has targeted March for the fight – and will begin his training camp shortly. Already, though, MacDonald claims he’s in a different state of mind. A stumble this past September against middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi not only dashed any immediate hopes of holding two belts but reinforced the consequences of taking a fight lightly.

“I think my focus was off during training camp,” MacDonald said. “I just didn’t prepare myself, both physically and mentally. I just was a bit lazy, got a bit comfortable and didn’t give it the respect it deserved for that situation.

“Because I got absolutely destroyed in that fight, I’m not really thinking about middleweight anytime soon. So I’m going to focus on welterweight and see what happens after that.”

Page (13-0 MMA, 9-0 BMMA) is set to meet Daley (40-16-2 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) in February at Bellator 216 in a long-anticipated meeting of rivals. Daley is by far the most experienced opponent Page has faced to date. If “Venom” gets past his fellow U.K. slugger, he’ll meet two-time welterweight champ Douglas Lima, who submitted ex-champ Andrey Koreshkov in the quarterfinals of the grand prix.

It’s by far the toughest stretch of opposition facing Page, whose opponents have lacked high-level experience until recently. But for MacDonald, who would face the untested Neiman Gracie if successful against Fitch, it’s a stylistic intrigue against a highly unpredictable and explosive striker. Page has racked up knockout after highlight-reel knockout and brings eyeballs that could further elevate his profile.

First, though, he needs to get back into gear against Fitch.

“I do think I have what it takes to put him away,” MacDonald said. “I think I have what it takes to win this whole tournament, in fact.”

For more on Belllator’s upcoming schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.